Iberdrola is making a bold move to become a global frontrunner in green hydrogen technology. With a portfolio of 60 green hydrogen projects spanning Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, and the United States, the company is poised to invest a staggering €9 billion by 2030.
“Our ambition is to have 3 gigawatts (GW) of electrolysis capacity installed, enabling us to produce 350,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually,” stated Ibán Molina, Director of Green Hydrogen at Iberdrola Spain.
Molina, speaking at the V Ecoforum organized by Mediterráneo at the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) in Castellón, outlined the company’s ongoing and future green hydrogen initiatives. “After establishing green hydrogen as a reality, the next step will be derivatives, opening up new opportunities in green ammonia, green methanol, and green steel production,” he explained, emphasizing that all these projects will be complemented by renewable energy sources (photovoltaic and wind).
Highlighting the importance of technological advancements in electrolyzers, the devices that produce hydrogen through a chemical process that splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, Molina showcased two of Iberdrola’s green hydrogen projects already operational in Spain. These initiatives were developed ‘ad hoc’ in collaboration with specific customers.
The first is a green hydrogen station in Barcelona’s Zona Franca, supplying clean energy to Barcelona’s metropolitan buses. “This project has been operational since January 2022, and in its first phase, it powers eight buses. Our goal is to increase this to 46 buses next year,” he stated.
The second project is the green hydrogen plant in Puertollano, Ciudad Real, the largest of its kind for industrial use in Europe. It produces ammonia and fertilizers at the Fertiberia plant. With an investment of €150 million, the first phase was completed in 2022. “This project’s plan includes four phases between 2021 and 2027, both in Puertollano and Palos de la Frontera, Huelva,” he explained.
Beyond these two projects, Iberdrola has established strategic alliances in Spain for industrial-scale green hydrogen production. One such alliance is in Castellón, partnering with BP to produce up to 600,000 tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030. This project, presented last February at the Grau refinery, will be developed in three phases, with the first phase alone involving an investment of €2 billion and creating 5,000 jobs.
Iberdrola’s other alliances include a green methanol production project in Galicia and a green ammonia production project in Huelva, aiming to export 100,000 tonnes of green ammonia.
