Research and development of environmentally friendly hydrogen production and storage will be the focus of Norvento’s participation in the ZEPPELIN consortium.
The consortium, led by Aqualia, will look into new ways to produce green hydrogen as an alternative to electrolysis, which is currently the most widely used method of producing hydrogen. This will help promote a circular economy by revaluing waste and waste products from various industries, such as agri-food, textiles, refineries, and wastewater treatment facilities.
While most hydrogen is generated from fossil fuels, only 1% is generated from renewable sources. It is expected that by 2030, 25% of the hydrogen consumed by industry in Spain will come from renewable sources, and that this source will be able to power the national transportation system.
As a result of the ZEPPELIN project, the production of circular green hydrogen is expected to reach approximately 135,000 t/year, enough to meet the 2030 Hydrogen Roadmap of Spain’s goal and the energy needs of the entire Spanish railway network. As a result, more than 99 million tons of waste and 50 million tons of municipal wastewater will be revalued, advancing the circular economy.
Hydrogen production will be made more affordable, more efficient, and better for the environment thanks to the development of new methods and technologies. As a result of the ZEPPELIN project’s role in the revaluation of waste linked to the primary and food sectors, rural areas threatened by depopulation will benefit from increased economic activity and qualified employment.
An expert in green technologies, Norvento Enerxa will investigate dark fermentation and hydrogen purification technologies and share its hydrogen and waste revaluation expertise with the consortium. Dark fermentation is the process of obtaining biohydrogen from organic waste without the use of light or anaerobic bacteria.
There are seven leading companies in the hydrogen value chain that make up the ZEPPELIN consortium: Norvento Enerxa, Repsol, Naturgy, Redexis, Perseo, Técnicas Reunidas, and Reganosa. Additionally, the role of CETIM as the project’s technical office coordinators and the involvement of eight highly specialized research organizations stands out: CIDAUT (leading center for technological R&D&i in the transport and energy sector), CIEMAT (energy, environmental, and technological research center), EnergyLab (technological center specialized in energy efficiency and sustainability), and IMDEA Energy (institute for sustainability in energy production and management) ( mixed research center of the CSIC),
CDTI and the Ministry of Science and Innovation have financed the ZEPPELIN project in accordance with the 2021 call for the MISSIONS SCIENCE AND INNOVATION Program (Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan). The European Union’s NextGenerationEU Fund is providing the project with financial assistance.
