Spain: First Large Green Hydrogen Plant in Galicia Starts Its Processing

(Reganosa/NGVJournal) After two and a half years of preliminary work, the first large green hydrogen plant in Galicia begins its administrative and environmental processing this month. It is an electrolysis production facility that uses water from the lake of As Pontes (A Coruña) and new sources of clean energy. It is promoted by Reganosa jointly with EDP Renováveis (EDPR).

This hydrogen production terminal has been conceived for its connection in cumulative phases of 20, 30 and 50 megawatts of power, to reach a total of 100 MW after completion of its development. With an annual production capacity of up to 14,400 tons of H2 for distribution by tanker and injection into a hydro pipeline, it is expected to prevent the emission of more than 12,000 equivalent tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each month.

The materialization of the complex would require an initial area of 35,000 square meters. Its operation and maintenance would generate 50 direct and 55 indirect jobs, while 186 professionals plus 52 indirectly would intervene in construction. In the hiring of workers and suppliers, those of the place would be prioritized and, particularly, those affected by the cessation of activity in the coal-fired power plant.

This project is part of the Pole for the Transformation of Galicia, articulated by Xunta de Galicia. Due to its characteristics, the initiative is aligned with the objectives pursued by the EU Green Deal and the Next Generation program; the National Energy and Climate Plan, the Spanish Just Transition Strategy, and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan; and the State Pact for Ferrol, the Law on Administrative Simplification and Support for the Economic Reactivation of Galicia, and the Galician Strategy for Climate Change and Energy 2050.

Since Reganosa began working on it at the end of 2019, the conception of this plan has accumulated 20,000 hours of development in which 30 companies and organizations have been involved in some way. Among other tasks carried out, feasibility studies, market analysis, commercial strategies, specific digital tools and conceptual and basic engineering have been carried out, the latter task for which Inerco’s services have been essential. Siemens Energy, a world leader in the sector, has recently joined the project as a technology partner.

The first large renewable hydrogen plant in Galicia is part of a larger and comprehensive action that EDPR and Reganosa are promoting with the aim of turning Ferrolterra into the capital of green energy. The plan also includes energy storage consisting of a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant and a wind complex made up of four parks with state-of-the-art turbines.

The strategic alliance of both companies, which integrates the entire value chain, is the most ambitious commitment made to date for the decarbonization of the economy in Galicia. Thanks to it, the environment would have continuous access to affordable and clean energy, which constitutes a strength for attracting and establishing strategic industries, in addition to promoting the sustainability and competitiveness of the productive fabric. READ MORE