A document, promoted by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) that proposes a plan of 8,900 million Euros and includes 60 measures and sets a series of objectives for 2030.
In this way, it is intended that by that year there will be a production of 4 gigawatts (GW) of installed power of electrolyzers (representing 10% of the target set by the European Commission for the whole of the EU), key for the country to achieve climate neutrality and a 100% renewable electricity system by 2050.
The roadmap also envisages that 25% of industrial hydrogen consumption will be renewable by 2030. And, in terms of mobility, the implementation of hydrogenerators (hydrogen service stations), trains and heavy transport vehicles powered by this product is proposed.
This plan, whose development is contemplated in the Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) 2021-2030, and which has the collaboration of the private sector, highlights some of the opportunities that can materialize:
- Eliminate the emission of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the environment in sectors or processes that are difficult to decarbonize.
- Develop the value chains of the hydrogen economy and position Spain as a technological reference.
- Introduction of a greater percentage of renewable energies into the electrical system, promoting a higher degree of manageability and reducing the intermittency for the electrical system in the generation from renewable energy sources.
- Reduction of the energy dependence, improving the energy balance and providing security in the continuous supply of renewable energy, when there are "valley situations" of lower production of renewable energy generation by other sources.
- Making Spain one of the European powers in the generation of renewable energy due to the advantageous climate conditions and large free areas for the installation of renewable energy production plants, whether solar or wind.
- Favouring the decarbonisation of isolated energy systems, with special attention to island territories, where the temporary storage of electrical energy is key, in order to facilitate developments such as electrical mobility and sustainable tourist destinations.
- Promoting Spanish energy R+D+i as a pillar of sustainable economic growth and with it, the leadership of companies and industries in the hydrogen economy.
The 60 measures to be developed are grouped into four areas of action:
- Of a regulatory nature, which include the introduction of a system of guarantees of origin to ensure that the hydrogen has been produced from 100% renewable energy.
- Sectoral, to encourage the use of renewable hydrogen and projects in areas such as industry, energy or mobility.
- Of a transversal nature to promote knowledge of the potential of renewable hydrogen in society as a whole.
- To promote R+D+i, which will allow the creation of knowledge and competitive advantages, including the Spanish automotive industry, railway, sea and air transport.
This Road Map is aligned with the European Hydrogen Strategy, which establishes three time horizons, contemplating in a First Phase (2020-2024), the installation of at least 6 GW of electrolysers in the EU and the production of up to 1 million tons of renewable hydrogen, which would reach at least 40 GW of electrolysers by 2030 (end of the Second Phase, 2025-2030) and the production of up to 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen in the EU. In Phase Three, 2030-2050, renewable hydrogen technologies should reach maturity and be deployed on a large scale, reaching hard-to-decarbonize sectors where other alternatives may not be feasible or have higher costs.
This deployment will be done in line with the Storage Strategy. These two factors, according to the Road Map, will make hydrogen one of the main assets to make Spain one of the European powers in renewable generation and will lead to a radical change in the current energy paradigm, consolidating a 100% renewable electricity system by 2050.
Official information: https://energia.gob.es/es-es/Novedades/Paginas/publicacion-hoja-de-ruta-del-hidrogeno-apuesta-hidrogeno-renovable.aspx
