Spain is strengthening its stance as a leader in green hydrogen across the European Union. It stands out for hosting the most initiatives on the EU list of European Projects of Common Interest, with the bloc considering nearly 70 projects across Europe and planned investments reaching up to 50 billion euros.
The European Commission approved the list on October 25 and will submit it to the European Parliament and the Council for final approval.
Among the 68 hydrogen initiatives, the BarMar hydro canal stands out for connecting Barcelona and Marseille, representing an investment of about 2.135 billion dollars as part of the H2Med corridor.
Other shortlisted efforts expand the hydrogen ecosystem. The plan includes several electrolyzers, including three projects led by Repsol: Spain’s largest electrolyzer with a 150 MW capacity, the T-HYNET project; a 2.5 MW unit in Bilbao developed with Petronor; and a 100 MW electrolyzer in the first phase of a consortium with Enagás Renovable and Engie.
Hydrogen corridors are complemented by regional demonstrations such as the Andalusian Hydrogen Valley, developed by Cepsa, and the Asturias H2 Valley, developed by the Portuguese energy firm EDP. Additionally, two storage projects backed by Enagás—H2 storage Kuzey-1 and H2 storage Kuzey-2—are listed with investments of 580 million euros and 157 million euros respectively.
Lack of certainty regarding potential hydrogen demand
Despite Spain’s leadership in hydrogen, questions have been raised about H2Med’s inclusion in the list. Several organizations sent a letter to participants of the High-Level Decision-Making Meeting, expressing concerns about the project’s inclusion and long-term viability.
Experts view hydrogen as an early-stage technology. Large-scale production, transportation, and storage remain challenging, and the EU will need breakthroughs in technology and cost reductions to make green hydrogen competitive in the market and aligned with climate goals.
Questions persist about future demand for green hydrogen, especially for transportation, and the feasibility of the proposed projects under different market conditions.
There are ongoing doubts about actual demand for hydrogen investments, with some observers warning that the landscape may feature numerous long-distance pipelines and infrastructure that do not align with where hydrogen is most needed. These concerns echo worries about balancing supply with demand across Europe and the pace of development in the sector (as noted by industry analysts and researchers).
Recent commentary from energy analysts highlights the risk of overbuilding pipelines, ammonia import facilities, and potential liquid hydrogen receiving hubs if demand does not materialize as forecast. Critics argue that policy and industry incentives should reflect physical and economic realities rather than entrepreneurial optimism (as discussed in industry analyses and think-tank reports).
European policy discussions continue to stress the need for clearer demand signals and robust supply chains, particularly for green hydrogen. Observers note that the absence of solid demand, coupled with uncertain supply, could slow progress toward decarbonization goals in the region.
In light of these debates, some industry voices advocate a more phased approach, prioritizing projects with demonstrable demand and scalable technology to avoid stranded assets and ensure value creation for taxpayers and industry alike (as summarized in recent policy briefings and expert opinions).
Spain’s experience with the broader hydrogen agenda reflects the challenge: strong ambition must be matched by reliable market signals, technological progress, and a coherent cross-border strategy. The conversation continues as EU institutions weigh the balance between bold investment and prudent planning within the energy transition (attribution: EU policy documents and industry analyses).
Note: For broader context on cross-border infrastructure plans and hydrogen strategies, see the European Commission communications and EU energy infrastructure summaries, which provide context on the project list and its implications for member states and industry players (citation: European Commission energy infrastructure data).