The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has confirmed that Spain will have three renewable hydrogen projects selected in the first European auction, "Hydrogen Bank – Auctions as a Service (AaaS)."
They will be located in Saceruela (Ciudad Real), Garray (Soria), and Onda (Castellón), with a total electrolysis capacity of 485 MW and committed national funding of €377 million.
The three projects have been designated by CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) as beneficiaries of the European AaaS mechanism, with the aim of boosting large-scale renewable hydrogen production.
According to information published by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Savings (IDAE), each of these projects must demonstrate a minimum of 5 MW of electrolysis capacity, comply with renewable supply requirements, hydrogen purchase agreements, and RFNBO certification systems.
EP2X (Saceruela, Ciudad Real)
- With a capacity of 325 MW of electrolyzers, it will be the largest renewable hydrogen plant planned in Spain.
- It will receive 245 million euros in public aid.
- Promoted by ErasmoPower2X SL, with Dutch investors, it will be linked to the Puertollano Hydrogen Valley.
- It will be powered by photovoltaic solar energy and will also have 70 MW storage batteries.
- The estimated annual production is 85.000 tons of green hydrogen, destined for industrial and mobility applications.
eM-Numancia (Garray, Soria)
- Pilot project with a capacity of 2,5 MW, aimed at producing e-methanol by combining renewable hydrogen and biogenic CO₂.
- Promoted by the company H2 Duero (Somacyl-Redexis) with H2B2 technology.
- It will receive approximately 44 million euros in public aid.
- It will have a direct impact on the Soria Environmental Business Park (PEMA), creating 100 local jobs and reducing emissions of up to 2.000 tons of CO₂ per year.
Orange.bat (Onda, Castellón)
- It will have 100 MW of electrolyzers, with an estimated production of 16.446 tons of hydrogen per year.
- The project will receive approximately 82,5 million euros in public funding.
- Promoted by Smartenergy Group and Etra I+D, it has the support of the provincial ceramics cluster.
- The total planned investment is €180 million, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and operational completion in 2028.
- Its main objective is to supply green hydrogen to the local ceramics industry, replacing up to 75% of natural gas consumption.
Calendar and available aid
The IDAE has now published the final list of selected projects and has opened a 60-calendar-day period for submitting the necessary documentation for direct grants. These grants will cover part of the cost of renewable hydrogen production during the first ten years of operation, with a maximum of €250 million per project.
These initiatives represent a significant step forward in the large-scale deployment of renewable hydrogen in Spain, aligning with the Hydrogen Roadmap and the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan. Furthermore, they contribute to positioning Spain as one of the key countries in the production of green hydrogen in Europe.