Iberdrola’s green hydrogen generation facility in Puertollano (Ciudad Real) will commence commercial operation in March.
This was confirmed by Julio Castro, CEO of Iberdrola Renewable Energy, during the EL ESPAOL, Invertia, and El Digital de Castilla-La Mancha-organized I Castilla-La Mancha Economic Forum: Achievements and Challenges.
“In Castilla-La Mancha, great opportunities open up with the development of renewables. It is the region with the most possibilities due to several factors, the first due to the wind and solar resources, which are very good, and second, because it is a very large territory , and that is compatible with the agro-livestock industry”.
Lastly, “it is very well communicated, so we can say that Castilla-La Mancha is in the right place”. In fact, Castro has pointed out that Iberdrola already has some 1,800 renewable MW installed in the region. “Especially in Guadalajara, Cuenca and Albacete.”
“And in a year and a half we have launched three photovoltaic parks of 50 MW each in the province of Toledo, in addition to the solar plant in Puertollano that will serve to supply green energy to the largest electrolyser that has been built in the world with 20,000 MW,” Julio Castro, CEO of Iberdrola Renewable Energy..
Iberdrola’s green hydrogen plant will begin production in March and will serve Fertiberia. “We can claim that the initial tests have been conducted, that the initial hydrogen molecules have been created.”
Fertiberia will use the green hydrogen generated to cut its natural gas consumption by more than 10% and to become the first European firm in the field to gain large-scale experience in the production of green ammonia.
When asked what we can do about such high energy prices, the head of Iberdrola Renewables responded, “we are looking at the cost of gas consumed in combined cycles to create power, but renewables installed in the previous three to four years do not receive any assistance.”
Additionally, “a study conducted in collaboration with the University of Castilla la Mancha discovered that what is created surrounding a photovoltaic park is a new biotype, with more cephalopods, lizards, rabbits, and birds of prey…”, a habitat that is more conducive to animal survival.
However, there is a renewable legacy that continues to receive assistance and is “under the eye of the regulator.” It relates to the law that is currently being considered by the Congress of Deputies to establish the National Fund for the Sustainability of the Electric System (FNSEE), which “will shift costs to those that induce energy generation,” in the broadest sense.
Finally, Castro emphasized the enormous number of enterprises that have signed PPAs with renewable energy providers, committing to the long-term purchase and sale of green energy at competitive costs. “Not only are energy costs reduced significantly, but the carbon footprint is also reduced.”
Another of the topics that Iberdrola’s CEO has emphasized the most is the tremendous future of hybridization of renewable energy parks. “It is the crown jewel of Castilla-La Mancha.” And he cited the number of hours generated by wind farms as an example, “between 2,500 and 3,000 hours each year.”
“After generating the required 8,000 hours per year, the remainder must be supplied by another technology, namely photovoltaic, which can generate 4,000 hours per year.” When wind and solar farms share the same electrical connection and substation, an extremely high level of efficiency is attained.
Indeed, “at Iberdrola, we have 900 MW of solar fields coupled with hybridization projects, including the country’s first hydroelectric hybridization on the Tagus.”
In conclusion, and in view of Naturgy’s recent statement that it will spin off its business, Julio Castro responded that at Iberdrola, “there is no reason to split our renewables sector; in reality, many synergies are produced with other divisions.”
