European Energy plans to develop one of Spain's first plants dedicated to the production of green hydrogen, a renewable gas that can be used to decarbonize industry and transport. The Danish company, specialized in developing, financing, building, and operating wind and solar farms, has chosen the municipality of Roda de Berà for the construction of the new plant, the first of its kind outside its home country. Following the announcement of the investment, the Roda City Council has denied that the project is finalized and has expressed its opposition to its development. The company, for its part, has responded that it will continue working to make it possible.
The plant projected by the company is intended to be located very close to a potential client, the Tarragona petrochemical complex, an industrial area that concentrates 25% of the Spanish chemical industry. According to Expansión, the investment will be around 74 million euros.
In statements to The New Barcelona Post, the head for Spain and Portugal of European Energy, Enrique Galdos, points out that the plant is expected to occupy an area of almost one hectare and have a productive capacity of 16,000 kilos of green hydrogen per day. The renewable gas will be produced from wind and photovoltaic energy, so panels and windmills will be installed. The plant will also require water, although in smaller quantities. With water and energy, green hydrogen will be produced through electrolysis.
The new facility is expected to generate 100 direct jobs and 150 indirect jobs until its opening. Construction has not yet begun and is estimated to be completed in 2026.
The investment that European Energy wants to make in Roda de Berà is part of the Catalonia Hydrogen Valley, an initiative that aims to boost its production, as well as reduce pollution in the area. It is coordinated by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and has the collaboration of 200 public and private organizations. Currently, they are already working on more than 70 projects to promote the implementation of this renewable gas.
In Spain since 2007
The investment of more than 70 million in Roda de Berà exceeds the investment that European Energy has made so far in Spain. The Søborg-based company arrived in 2007, developing 14 projects ---two in Catalonia, specifically, in Girona--- and disbursing 65 million euros. With the cut in aid for the production of renewable energies carried out by the Government of Mariano Rajoy, the company began to focus on other countries and ended up divesting in most of the projects it had started in Spain.
The investment of more than 70 million in Roda de Berà exceeds the investment that European Energy has made so far in SpainIt was like this until last year, when it opened an office in Barcelona to refocus on the Spanish market, which has left behind financial restrictions and is experiencing a boomin investment in renewable energies.Now, the Danish multinational plans to invest up to one billion euros in Spain, including the plant in Roda de Berà.
In fact, the company is studying the possibility of building a second plant near the first, designed to supply the maritime industry, another sector that dominates the area and can benefit from the transition to cleaner energies. This second plant is being considered to specialize in the production of emission-free methanol, known as e-methanol. This chemical compound is obtained from green hydrogen and CO2, and Galdos points out that it can serve to replace diesel. This is a model that European Energy already develops in its country of origin and that could have its first location outside Denmark in Catalonia.
A sector with a turnover of 426 million
The Department of Business and Labor has estimated the turnover of the green hydrogen ecosystem in Catalonia at 426 million. According to a study by Acció released this Monday, about 140 companies integrate its value chain and generate more than 1,300 jobs. In more than half of the cases, these are companies dedicated to export (55%) and that invoice more than ten million euros (58%). In fact, 82% of the total companies in this sector already earn more than one million euros.
For the Generalitat, Catalonia has several elements that make it a favorable environment for the implementation of hydrogen. Apart from initiatives such as the Hydrogen Valley, the autonomous community has eight technology centers that research this element and nine universities that offer training.