Naturgy, Repsol and Reganosa joined forces to develop a renewable hydrogen production hub in Galicia. The project includes the installation of an electrolysis plant powered by 100% renewable energy on the land of the old Meirama thermal power plant, in the municipality of Cerceda (A Coruña). With the boost of this energy vector, the three companies reinforce their commitment to a fair energy transition.
In the initial phase, whose commissioning is scheduled for 2025, the plant will reach 30 MW, scalable in different phases up to a total potential of 200 MW. It will produce more than 4,000 tons of renewable hydrogen per year in a first phase and will reach a total production of 30,000 tons per year.
The renewable hydrogen generated will be for industrial use to replace the conventional hydrogen currently used by the Repsol refinery in A Coruña. It will also be used in other industries, in injection into the gas network to be mixed with natural gas and in mobility. All these uses will make it possible to reduce the carbon footprint of the area and demonstrate the feasibility of mass production of renewable hydrogen and its distribution to the final consumer.
“This project will speed up the introduction of hydrogen in sectors such as energy, industry or transport, in addition to having a great impact on the local economy, in a just transition location such as Meirama. At Naturgy we want to be protagonists of the energy transition and hydrogen is one of the essential vectors to achieve a decarbonized economy, which is why we want to cover the entire value chain, from its production to its final use,” said the Director of New Businesses in Naturgy Silvia Sanjoaquin.
Renewable hydrogen is one of Repsol’s pillars in its strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. “This project is part of our renewable hydrogen strategy in Galicia and represents a milestone in the transformation of the A Coruña refinery into a multi-energy pole that provides decarbonized products to society,” commented Tomás Malango, Director of Hydrogen at Repsol.
“15 years ago we provided Galicia with a key infrastructure for the arrival of gas, and the competitiveness of our industry improved substantially. Now, under the leadership of the Xunta de Galicia and surrounded by the best partners, we are participating in the configuration of a new energy ecosystem. The Galicia of the future, which is already in the making, will be green, digital and inclusive, and it is a source of pride for us to be able to promote that transformation that we all long for,” added the General Director of Reganosa Emilio Bruquetas.
Innovation and value creation
The innovation of the project appears at all stages of the value chain: in the production plant itself, in its uses in the industry, in the injection into the gas network, in the commercialization through Guarantees of Origin (GdOs) and in its use for sustainable mobility. It is a project that contemplates multiple demands.
The project will not only lead to high job creation, but will also bring benefits in the social sphere, thus contributing to the fulfillment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This hydrogen hub is part of the strategic energy initiatives promoted by the Xunta de Galicia within the framework of the EU Next Generation program and the national Recovery and Resilience Plan. Its objective is to promote economic growth, job creation and the development of a competitive, sustainable and circular business network.
In addition, it can position Galicia as a global benchmark in the production, distribution and consumption of renewable hydrogen, thus favoring the economic growth of the region. The uniqueness of the project and its large scale give it great potential when it comes to replicating it in other locations, both nationally and internationally. The three companies are essential agents in the development of this type of industrial initiatives due to the contribution of their capacity and global knowledge in the entire value chain of the plant.
Source: Reganosa/Naturgy/Repsol
