The global push to cut carbon emissions by 2050 includes a pivotal role for green hydrogen. In this climate effort, Greene, partnering with the Technological Energy Institute (ITE) and the Community of Valencia Energy Cluster (CECV), has launched a project that aims to produce clean hydrogen from waste through a process described as a circle completing its own square.
Greene, based in Elche, specializes in technology that converts organic waste, including plastics and other carbon-containing materials, into syngas that can power energy generation or yield chemical products. This approach tackles the mounting challenge of landfill saturation while also offering potential reductions in operating costs for industry. The company is actively advancing several gasification plant projects across Spain, spanning sectors such as meat processing, paper, brewing, and urban solid waste management. Notably, ongoing efforts include a landfill-waste recycling initiative in Bergara, a Basque municipality, and another in Somozas, Galicia.
In this framework, Greene has initiated Sigen2H2, a program centered on producing hydrogen via precise gasification of waste rejection streams, conducted in collaboration with ITE and CECV. The initiative includes landfill waste integration and optimization simulations, reinforcing a commitment to circular economy principles and sustainable production practices.
Emilio Sánchez, Greene’s technical director for hydrogen projects, highlights that hydrogen can be generated from waste through thermochemical gasification using water as a reactant, presenting an alternative to fossil fuels obtained through reforming or electrolysis. He notes that waste represents a renewable, inexhaustible feedstock because daily consumption produces a steady stream of reusable materials.
Juan Manuel Martínez, Greene’s business development director, echoes the same outlook. He states that the process starts from a renewable input such as processed waste, a raw material used to manufacture another product. The emphasis is on transforming waste into valuable energy or chemicals, advancing the company’s growth trajectory.
The initiative aims to secure funding from the European Union’s NextGenerationEU program, with the objective of launching a pilot plant capable of processing around 100 kilograms of waste per hour while producing approximately six kilograms of hydrogen. This pilot would help validate the technology and accelerate development, providing a practical bridge between research and scalable deployment.
Aligned with strategic priorities for energy storage, renewable energy, circular economy, energy transition, and sustainable mobility, the project also aligns with national policy efforts. It supports calls for innovative jobs under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, and contributes to broader improvement, transformation, and resilience goals for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Martínez notes that Greene is in a rapid growth phase. The company currently employs 47 people, with expectations of substantial expansion as each new facility comes online and creates additional direct and indirect employment opportunities.
[Citation: European Union NextGenerationEU funding framework; institutional partners: Technological Energy Institute and Community of Valencia Energy Cluster]