Andalusia, a region in Spain, has secured funding for three projects focused on the development of large electrolysers for the production of renewable hydrogen.
The projects were selected in the call for Line 3 of the H2 Value Chain Program, initiated by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco). Each initiative will receive 15 million euros, totaling 45 million euros in funding.
Managed by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDEA), which operates under Miteco, the program has awarded a total of 100 million euros in grants to seven projects across five autonomous communities in Spain. Aside from Andalusia, the Valencian Community, Asturias, Galicia, and Castilla-La Mancha have also been beneficiaries.
Out of the 100 million euros, 60 million euros have been allocated to projects in areas associated with the Just Transition and Demographic Challenge, focusing on regions impacted by the closure of thermal power plants like Carboneras (Almería), Meirama (A Coruña), and the Aboño thermoelectric complex (Asturias), among others.
The H2 Value Chain Program is part of the Strategic Project for the Reconstruction and Economic Transformation of Renewable Energies, Renewable Hydrogen, and Storage (Perte ERHA). It aims to promote the development of electrolysis demonstrators and the integration of large-capacity electrolyzers in industrial environments.
During the selection process, factors such as emission reduction, job creation, and gender equality were taken into consideration. The chosen projects are required to adhere to the principle of “not causing significant harm to the environment.”
Miteco is actively working to advance the production and utilization of renewable hydrogen, both in commercially viable projects and their integration into sectors that are challenging to decarbonize, such as industry and heavy mobility. The program also supports industrial research and the development of innovative solutions in experimental settings.
Line 4 of the H2 Value Chain program is set to close soon, providing 40 million euros to promote basic research. Additionally, the second call for H2 Pioneers has been launched, offering 150 million euros for innovative and integrated initiatives focused on the local production and consumption of renewable hydrogen.
These funding initiatives are part of the Component 9, “Renewable Hydrogen Roadmap and its Sectoral Integration,” of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR). They play a significant role within Perte ERHA, a comprehensive program designed to develop technology, knowledge, industrial capabilities, and new business models that strengthen Spain’s leadership in the field of clean energies.
The Perte ERHA aims to mobilize an investment of over 16.3 billion euros, combining contributions from the Recovery Plan and private funds. Financial support will be provided through competitive bidding calls to select the most promising projects.
These funding mechanisms contribute to achieving the objectives outlined in the Hydrogen Roadmap, a strategic document that promotes renewable hydrogen. One of its goals is to reach an electrolysis capacity of 300 to 600 MW by 2024 and 4 GW by 2030, accounting for 10% of the community’s overall objective.
