Spain’s energy sector is advancing with a major investment aimed at expanding renewable hydrogen capacity in Catalonia. A European fund allocation of 62 million euros is backing a Tarragona-based electrolyzer project envisioned to become one of the region’s largest hydrogen production facilities. This effort is part of the European Commission’s third Innovation Fund call, which channels revenue from emissions trading toward innovative clean-technology initiatives. The Innovation Fund currently manages a multi-billion euro budget to support breakthrough projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster sustainable industry in Europe. (Cited: European Commission)
The project, coordinated around Repsol and supported by collaborating partners Enagás Renovable, Iqoxe, and Messer, is designed to advance a broader initiative named T-HYNET. The initial phase targets a renewable hydrogen production capacity of 150 megawatts, with commissioning planned for 2026. In a subsequent expansion phase beginning in 2027, capacity would grow to about 1 gigawatt. The total investment linked to this undertaking exceeds 320 million euros, underscoring a strong commitment to decarbonizing industrial processes and enabling new energy pathways. (Cited: European Commission)
The core objective is to establish a local source of hydrogen that can serve industrial uses, mobility, and the broader energy network. The project aims to supply a sustainable feedstock for industrial fuel needs, with hydrogen and oxygen byproducts managed in ways that minimize resource consumption. The T-HYNET initiative is part of a wider European Hydrogen Backbone vision, which seeks to create a transnational network for hydrogen transport across EU member states. (Cited: European Commission)
The Catalonia Hydrogen Valley, the Ebro Hydrogen Corridor, and related initiatives form a robust consortium that includes 22 companies, 11 associations, technology centers, and universities. Together, they aim to propel renewable hydrogen across the Catalan economy and beyond. The plan includes deploying a hydrogen collection and distribution system capable of delivering fuel to key industrial clusters, including the Petrochemical Pole and Ecoplant. (Cited: European Commission)
This investment represents the third major large-scale call under the Innovation Fund program, which has allocated substantial funding toward transformative clean-energy projects through 2030. Spain hosts a significant portion of funded initiatives, alongside notable programs such as Green Meiga for green methanol production, the Iberdrola and Triskelion projects, the Asturias H2 Valley, and EDP’s Aboño factory hydrogen work. Other notable endeavors include battery recycling collaborations and the Seaworthy project from a Danish company with a Tarragona presence for floating power solutions. The breadth of these efforts highlights the EU’s commitment to accelerating the energy transition through practical, scalable pilots. (Cited: European Commission)