Spain is poised for what many call the next energy revolution. Energy and industrial groups have assembled more than a hundred projects to harness a new vein: green hydrogen, produced using electricity from renewable sources. This is a crucial step toward decarbonising the economy and replacing natural gas with emission-free green gas in sectors where processes currently struggle to decarbonise.
Spanish and international companies hold a vast portfolio of plans in the Spanish market that aim to surpass the government’s targets for renewable hydrogen production by 2030. The ambition was highlighted in Spain’s green plan draft sent to the European Commission for this decade, seeking to position Spain as a leading hub for renewable hydrogen on the planet.
Business groups already outline 112 special projects for the production and use of green hydrogen before 2030, with a total electrolyzer capacity of 16,500 megawatts in Spain, according to the latest data updated by the Head of Hydrogen Studies at Universidad Pontificia Comillas.
Spain lays the ‘first stone’ to lead green hydrogen boom in Europe
Groups such as Iberdrola, Endesa, Naturgy, Repsol, Cepsa, Enagás, BP, EDP, Acciona, Exolum, Redexis, Reganosa, and the shipping giant Maersk are among the many companies with green hydrogen projects at varying maturity levels. Planned investments exceed 30,000 million euros, with the potential to rise quickly since nearly half of the plans on the list do not yet specify the required investments for execution. Source: AEH2 and company disclosures show a dynamic pipeline across multiple regions.
exceed the target
The total strength of the project portfolio created by energy firms and industrial groups stands at about 50% above the target set by the Ministry of Ecological Transformation, under Vice President Teresa Ribera, in the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), which still awaits Brussels approval. The revised green megaplan forecasts reaching 11,000 MW of electrolysis capacity to produce green hydrogen by 2030, nearly tripling the modest 4,000 MW target proposed in the Hydrogen Roadmap previously approved. Source: PNIEC documentation and government briefings are cited in industry reports.
Many of these projects are advancing through regional hydrogen valleys, public‑private ecosystems that connect hydrogen producers with consumers. Eleven valleys exist across Spain with plans to expand to Puertollano, Andalusia, Catalonia, Extremadura, the Basque Country, Galicia, Castilla y León, Murcia, Aragón, and Mallorca. Total planned investment across these initiatives approaches 21.9 billion euros, according to the Spanish Hydrogen Association (AEH2) census for 2030 projections.
The majority of projects remain in early stages, and it is unclear when they will begin operations. Out of more than 100 projects, only five are already in operation and eight are under construction. About thirty have started administrative permit procedures, while the remaining sixty or so are still in feasibility studies. Source: Universidad Pontificia Comillas and AEH2 tallies are frequently cited by industry trackers.
560 million aid
The Spanish plan aims to create an energy and industrial ecosystem that embraces the green hydrogen revolution. It seeks to leverage European funds to accelerate research, development, production, and use cases, supporting the country’s energy transition goals. The government has launched six aid programs linked to green hydrogen under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR) and another for important projects of common European interest (IPCEI) approved by the European Commission. In total, over 560 million euros have been allocated to 81 projects, while more than 300 opted out. Source: official tender summaries and the IDAE subsidy announcements provide the framework for support programs.
Within the Ministry of Ecological Transformation, the Institute of Energy Diversification and Conservation (IDAE) manages subsidy distributions with a joint budget of 490 million euros, helping companies finance parts of their initiatives through two calls for pioneering projects and four calls for other hydrogen value chain initiatives. Additionally, the Council of Ministers approved 74 million to support four IPCEI projects endorsed by Brussels. Source: government releases and IDAE program briefs outline the funding structure.
A year earlier, the government launched the strategic economic recovery and transformation project (PERTE) related to renewable energies and green hydrogen. Initially funded at 6.9 billion euros from European funds and later raised to 7.9 billion, the plan aims to mobilize an additional 16 billion euros of private investment. As part of the initiative, 1.555 billion of public funds are dedicated to renewable hydrogen to attract around 2.8 billion more in private capital, positioning Spain as a key player in the green hydrogen revolution. Source: PERTE program summaries describe the capital framework and expected private leverage.