Rafael Calvera and the family business once earned a reputation as leading advocates for hydrogen in the arid expanse of the industry. The path was long and demanding, yet it taught them nearly everything about the unstable, complex molecule many now hope to transport. Today, at the Épila factory in Zaragoza, after forty years of building expertise, they offer a proven formula. Fueled by green hydrogen, what was once a barren landscape has become a corridor of opportunity, with turnover rising from 8 million in 2019 to 28 million in 2023 and projected to exceed 40 million in 2024.
A major expansion is planned on a 200,000-square-meter site adjacent to their headquarters in the El Sabinar industrial area of Épila. A 30,000-square-meter facility will house a research and production center, backed by a 30 million dollar investment, aiming to employ more than 250 people by 2026. The objective is to begin mass production of hydrogen infrastructure, reinforcing green hydrogen as a pivotal element for the industries of the future.
Calvera engineers and manufacturers hydrogen transport infrastructures. They address the core challenge facing the push for this fuel: balancing abundant renewable energy with its variability and the difficulty of compressing hydrogen. The company places efficiency and safety at every step—from loading hydrogen onto trucks to storage and distribution. Security remains the guiding principle that builds customer trust and supports industry adoption. Calvera Hydrogen seeks to earn a reputation as a reliable partner in the hydrogen sector.
The focus is on designing and building hydrogen plants and the associated fueling stations. The product lineup includes a growing range of hydrogen refueling solutions. The Épila facility recently produced Europe’s largest service station to date, capable of delivering 1,600 kilograms of fuel daily to refuel 70 buses and 20 light vehicles in five minutes each, enabling ranges well beyond 700 kilometers.
Another line of business is road transport through tube trailers—semi-trailers loaded with cylindrical hydrogen tanks. Calvera manufactures ultra-strong trailers rated for high pressure. Tank capacities vary with needs, including 306 kilograms at 200 bar and 1,354 kilograms at 500 bar, as described by Rafael Calvera. For context, most automobile tires operate at 2.3–2.8 bar.
He is working on a bottle to store hydrogen. ANGEL DE CASTRO
The Aragonese company began in 1954 under Julio Calvera, a venture demanding the highest safety standards typical of a high-pressure welding factory. Hydrogen investments began in the 1980s, but true green hydrogen exploration only started around 2003, aligning with the founding of the Aragon Hydrogen Foundation, where Calvera served as trustee and founder. Since then, the green version of this gas has defined the company’s future path.
Aragonese seal of the Canfranc hydrogen train
Calvera has shown a steady growth trajectory, with notable acceleration since 2019. The turnover hovered around 8–9 million in 2021, with plans to reach 18 million in 2022 and 28 million in 2023. The workforce expanded from 40 employees to 140, forming a multinational-style structure with dedicated functions in legal, security, human resources, procurement, and a robust engineering division. Today, more than 40 expert engineers focus on green hydrogen and biomethane.
The Calvera brand has spread beyond Spain. While Spain hosts the country’s largest hydrogen facility, the company exports about 70% of its production, supplying 40 buses daily in Barcelona and delivering projects for major partners such as Repsol, Iberdrola, and Enagás. It is also recognized for pioneering hydrogen stations that serve a range of customers, including trains arriving at Canfranc station, where refueling capabilities extend to other rail services.
Additional projects include initiatives in Madrid for light vehicles and a recently completed installation in Mallorca. The group is known for strong industrial performance and a proactive hydrogen policy approach. Although rooted in Aragon, the family business has grown into a global operation, having once viewed hydrogen as a rough diamond. Today, its investments and results reflect long-term planning and persistent execution.