Spain’s first industrial green hydrogen plant has been inaugurated on the island of Mallorca.

The project has been producing green hydrogen in a test phase since December 2021. It will eventually ramp up to 300t/yr once offtake agreements are in place.

The project is led by Spanish gas distributor Enagas and energy firm Acciona Energy. Spanish state research organisation Idae and construction firm Cemex also participated.

300t/yr – Eventual capacity of plant

The renewable electricity needed to power the electrolyser will be provided by the Lloseta (8.5MW) and Petra (5.85MW) solar PV plants. The GreenH2Chain platform, developed by Acciona Energy, will certify the hydrogen as renewable using blockchain technology.

“The production in Mallorca of the first renewable hydrogen molecules marks a milestone in Spain and in Europe as a pioneer project of the Green Hysland initiative,” says Arturo Gonzalo, CEO of Enagas.

Ecosystem development

Green Hysland aims to deploy a fully functioning hydrogen ecosystem on the island of Mallorca, turning it into the first hydrogen hub in southern Europe and reducing CO₂ emissions by 21,000t/yr.

The EU has committed €10mn ($11mn) to its implementation through the public-private Clean Hydrogen Partnership (CHP), the second-largest subsidy granted by the body to a green hydrogen project and the first to a Mediterranean country.

“We are proud that the first hydrogen ecosystem in southern Europe is becoming a reality and we are convinced that it will serve as a model for similar hydrogen valleys across Europe,” says Bart Biebuyck, executive director of the CHP.

Dedicated infrastructure

Some of the green hydrogen will be transported through the first dedicated hydrogen pipeline in Spain and injected into the natural gas distribution network in Palma de Mallorca by gas distribution firm Redexis. 

Mallorca has a target to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. It plans to electrify most sectors and use hydrogen to power those that cannot be electrified, starting with bus fleets and the generation of heat and electricity for public buildings.

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Author: Tom Young