Asturias Advances in Green Hydrogen and Offshore Wind
Renewable energies are taking shape in Asturias, with hydrogen and offshore wind emerging as pivotal pillars for Spain’s energy transition. The Institute for Energy Diversification and Conservation (IDAE) has sanctioned almost €40 million in support for four green hydrogen projects in Asturias, signaling strong regional momentum built on public funding and private collaboration. These investments align with national strategies to expand clean power infrastructure and accelerate decarbonization across industrial sectors.
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, roughly €40 million has been approved to finance four Asturias initiatives focused on producing and promoting green hydrogen. The pushes are driven by EDP and Hunosa and form part of ReCode, a joint public-private program to reactivate industry, boost competitiveness, and cut emissions. ReCode is coordinated by the Ministry of Industry, Employment and Economic Promotion. The first stream, known as the renewable hydrogen H2 Pioneers Program, supports EDP projects in Soto de Ribera and Aboño with €5.7 million and €14.2 million respectively. IDAE granted a €4 million subsidy for green hydrogen production at Hunosa’s Pozo Fondón facilities. In the second stream, the initiative on large-scale electrolyzers to demonstrate an improved renewable hydrogen value chain has approved €15 million for EDP to advance the Asturias H2 Valley project at the Aboño thermal power plant. These actions underscore Asturias as a regional hub for green hydrogen development in Spain.
The offshore wind sector in Asturias benefits from an attractive business climate and a proactive approach to international collaboration. The region shared its experience at the Wind Energy Fair in Hamburg, Germany, last September, engaging with European partners to showcase capability in wind value chains. The goal is to promote regional potential for producing goods and services tied to wind, stimulate cross-border business networking, and attract investment in wind power technology. Over the four-day event, Asturias companies explored cutting-edge wind technologies, connected with major European players in the renewable energy sector, and showcased their products and services. The province offers a robust industrial base for wind activities, including the manufacture of support vessels, co-manufacturing of structures and components, and advanced structural integrity engineering. It also hosts technology centers to support research and development, strong port infrastructure for moving large components, and a broad network of industrial zones to facilitate deployment.
HyDeal and ReCoDe projects stand as strategic assets for the region’s future energy landscape. Asturias is recognized as a leader in green energy development at national, European, and global levels, a status highlighted by a European Commission visit to the Principality. The region is viewed as well placed to spearhead green hydrogen initiatives with a full value chain capable of production, storage, transport, and end-use across multiple industries that demand decarbonized processes. The HyDeal Spain project is seen as a cornerstone for sustaining Asturias’s steel industry and preserving the industrial heart of the Principality. Initial estimates of €8 billion evolved to nearly €10 billion as plans matured, reflecting the scale of investment envisioned. The ReCoDe program, built around Reactivation, Competitiveness, and Decarbonization, comprises 25 hydrogen-related projects from diverse perspectives and eight high-maturity actions, including the noteworthy EDP initiative. Subscriptions and partnerships continue to shape an integrated, forward-looking hydrogen economy in the region.
(attribution: European Commission) (Note: all terminology reflects ongoing programmatic updates and regional strategy in support of green energy leadership.)