The firms that makeup HyDeal Spain, a “joint venture” that aims to create huge volumes of green hydrogen to feed Arcelor and Fertiberia in Asturias, are well aware that time is of the essence and are moving forward swiftly with their plans.
In fact, they’ve already received offers from seven major engineering firms to work on the EPC project, which stands for ‘Engineering, Procurement, and Construction’ in English (Engineering, Purchasing, and Construction). This was revealed by Thierry Lepercq, the president of HyDeal, who described it as “a genuine vote of confidence for our industrial plan.”
In addition, the initiative aims to include other significant gas customers in Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country, Navarra, and La Rioja. Diversification of production would also be implemented. In the first phase, enormous solar parks and electrolyzers will be erected in various sections of Castilla y León, as well as in Aragón and even Navarra.
From Leon to Asturias, there’s a lot to see
In turn, hydrogen would be delivered to Asturias via a new gas network designed particularly for it, which would follow the same route as the present natural gas network. In actuality, two gas pipelines are proposed: one in the east, which would reach Asturias via Zamora and León, and one in the west, with two branches departing from Soria and Zaragoza, joining in Arnedo, passing through Logroo, and heading to the Principality via the Basque Country and Cantabria. As the project develops, it will be feasible to offer green hydrogen to the industry in those areas, as well as to other enterprises that may join in Asturias. Seven “global engineering” proposals have been made to the corporation to create all of the necessary infrastructures.
There are about thirty businesses
HyDeal Spain is the first industrial development of the HyDeal Ambition platform, which brings together thirty firms from throughout Europe to create this renewable gas. The Spanish joint venture, which will supervise the research, financing, and building of green hydrogen production and supply infrastructures, was formally formed as a firm on January 10, 2022.
Enagás Renovables and DH2 Energy will be in charge of building the projects; Enagás will be in charge of transportation and storage, and ArcelorMittal and Fertiberia will be the customers and will create the essential industrial applications.
The year 2025 has been set as the deadline
In addition, in the sphere of management, this initiative comprises Soladvent, a firm formed by Leperq. In particular, he stated that the crisis in Ukraine is turning into an “energy war,” and that his proposal will lower gas imports from Spain by 5% while also adding to Europe’s energy security. Yes, he stated, “we are on pace to achieve competitive large-scale green hydrogen production by 2025!”
HyDeal Spain plans to supply Arcelor’s facility in Gijón, where a portion of its head will be converted to utilize green hydrogen instead of coke, as well as a new Fertiberia ammonia plant in Avilés. Over the next 20 years, they will burn 6.6 million tons of coal.
Production is expected to begin in 2025, with a total installed capacity of 9.5 GW for solar energy and 7.4 GW for electrolyzers by 2030. A gigafactory of electrolyzers might be built-in Asturias as part of the proposal.
