Europe aims to sharply limit the climate impact in the Mediterranean, backing urgent moves in recent weeks. A key policy sets a minimum green hydrogen quota for the fuel used by ships and boats.
Transport Minister Raquel Sánchez participated in the European Union Council of Ministers gathering in Paris yesterday, where she argued that ports in the Balearic Islands, Valencia, Canary Islands, and Algeciras should stay competitive within Spain’s broader European decarbonization agenda. While the quota begins at 2 percent, the roadmap envisions reaching 12 percent by 2040 and 70 percent by 2070, a path over roughly five decades.
“We defend the competitiveness of our ports and, of course, the Canary and Balearic Islands,” Sánchez stated. The meeting focused on tackling climate change in air and maritime sectors and on expanding charging infrastructure across Member States.
A central topic is a common framework for decarbonizing maritime transport across the European Union from 2025 to 2050. This will involve negotiations with the European Parliament. Spain pressed for an amending version of the initial regulation submitted to the European Commission to protect the interests of Iberian and island ports, ensuring they are not disadvantaged.
The regulation known as FuelEU Maritime aims to progressively cut CO2 emissions from ships operating in the EU. At the outset, there was concern that shipping lines might steer long routes toward North African ports with less stringent climate rules, potentially bypassing fuller European requirements.
Among the main supporters of the policy, including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Ireland, there is a shared commitment to a 55 percent emission reduction by 2030 relative to 1990 levels, treated as a pivotal milestone.
Local media reports indicate the Spanish government was initially hesitant to demand a hydrogen and renewable fuels quota at the start of talks. While officials clarified that anxieties about competitiveness, particularly due to nearby North African ports, were a factor, efforts were made to secure safeguards for state ports against possible irregularities linked to proximity to Moroccan hubs.
To prevent such issues, regulations under consideration describe so-called ghost ports as those located within 300 kilometers of the European Union, such as Tangier in Morocco. Ships docking at these ports would be subject to the same rules as those traveling directly to European territory.
The plan includes requiring ports to provide charging and refueling points for ships, streamlining operations and easing cross-border transit.
Lloseta as a European benchmark
The Balearic Islands aim to be a central pillar of Europe’s updated climate strategy, given the direct effects on their island territory. In March, Mallorca became the first region in the country to produce green hydrogen, with the first molecules dating back to December 2021.
The Lloseta plant can generate up to 300 tons of green hydrogen at full capacity, powered by photovoltaic arrays. Official estimates project a CO2 emissions reduction of about 21,000 tons annually through its operation. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, previously called the Mallorcan project a positive example in the fight against climate change. The Lloseta facility forms a cornerstone of the European Green Hysland initiative.
Puertollano as a competing hub
Lloseta faces a major rival in Castilla-La Mancha, where Iberdrola is developing a green hydrogen plant. Set to begin commercial production after 15 months of construction, the facility will yield about 3,000 tons per year, delivering around 360 kilograms of green hydrogen per hour on a site spanning seven hectares. The project is expected to avoid roughly 48,000 tons of CO2 annually.