Spain is steadily making progress with the development of renewable hydrogen as a key part of its decarbonisation strategy. Renewable resources, industrial capacity and political commitment represent a winning combination, reflecting the country’s ambition to become one of Europe’s leading producers and users of this 100% green energy source.
There is growing momentum behind green hydrogen at the regional level. Several Autonomous Communities have already started rolling out their own strategies to attract investment, promote industrial projects and create local ecosystems. This is the case in Castilla-La Mancha, which has great renewable energy potential and a strong institutional commitment to becoming a leader in green hydrogen.
February saw the publication of its Renewable Hydrogen Roadmap. This strategic document sets out to establish the region as a leader in developing this key energy vector for decarbonisation.
Renewable hydrogen looks set to become one of the most promising solutions in the race to achieve climate neutrality. With its vast renewable energy resources and the presence of the National Hydrogen Centre (CNH2), Castilla-La Mancha is in a prime position to lead the way in its development.
This Autonomous Community will see the start of the rollout of the Conceptual Plan for Public Participation in the Spanish hydrogen infrastructure network promoted by Enagás.
This 18-month plan is a joint effort between the Autonomous Communities, local councils and everyone involved in setting up this hydrogen network. It aims to make sure there’s an open dialogue and involvement from local areas and stakeholders. The first phases of this Spanish hydrogen infrastructure network include connecting the Vía de la Plata corridor with Puertollano (Ciudad Real).
Looking beyond transmission to the rest of the hydrogen value chain, several major companies have followed the lead of this Autonomous Community, including Cummins’ electrolyser plant in Guadalajara and Hydnum Steel’s planned green steel plant in Puertollano.
The first phases of this Spanish hydrogen infrastructure network include connecting the Vía de la Plata corridor with Puertollano
Key targets of this Roadmap include the region’s need to develop a robust value chain and foster collaboration between the public and private sectors. It also looks to increase industrial and energy demand for renewable hydrogen, promote its use in different production sectors and boost research and development in this area.
Three strategic lines of work have been defined to achieve these targets. The first focuses on consolidating, promoting and attracting renewable hydrogen projects. The goal is to promote new business initiatives and improve the infrastructure needed to produce and distribute hydrogen.
Focused on promoting knowledge and raising awareness, the second line of business aims to encourage training on renewable hydrogen and educate the public, institutions and the private sector about its benefits. These efforts look to build a solid knowledge base that will help this technology catch on and create an innovation ecosystem in Castilla-La Mancha.
The region’s need to develop a robust value chain and foster collaboration between the public and private sectors
The third focal point concerns regulation and incentives to develop the hydrogen value chain. This line of work includes measures aimed at facilitating regulatory development, ensuring a stable regulatory framework and attracting investment through economic incentives.
A governance model has been designed to ensure compliance with these core areas and the strategy’s effective implementation. Castilla-La Mancha’s Hydrogen Cluster and the National Hydrogen Centre have a fundamental role in this model, working together under the Castilla-La Mancha Renewable Hydrogen Office. In addition, expert committees and working groups have been set up to monitor project progress and facilitate cooperation between public and private stakeholders.
Looking ahead to 2030 and 2050, the region has mapped out a development agenda aligned with national and European strategies. By 2030, the aim is to achieve a significant increase in installed renewable energy capacity, particularly photovoltaic and wind power, with a view to securing the energy supply needed for green hydrogen production. Plans also include consolidating a hydrogen-based mobility ecosystem, decarbonising key industrial sectors and promoting its use in the tertiary sector.
By 2050, the strategy focus is on consolidating Castilla-La Mancha as a European hydrogen hub, in which the sector is fully integrated into the regional economy. The industry is expected to become fully decarbonised, generating energy exclusively from renewable sources, which will help achieve climate neutrality and meet global emission reduction targets.
Castilla-La Mancha has exceptional potential to be a big player in renewable hydrogen, thanks to a unique mix of geography, climate, strategy, technology, industry and infrastructure. Located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, it enjoys a strategic advantage in terms of distribution and connectivity. In addition, its vast rural areas make it possible to build infrastructure without the constraints of urban land, ensuring the necessary space for production and storage facilities.
The local climate is another major asset. High solar radiation and persistent winds provide the region with ideal conditions for generating renewable electricity, which is essential for producing green hydrogen through electrolysis. These natural resources, together with a regulatory framework that promotes the expansion of clean energy, put the region in a privileged position within the energy transition process.
Castilla-La Mancha has exceptional potential to be a big player in green hydrogen, thanks to a unique mix of factors
Castilla-La Mancha’s commitment to decarbonisation is reflected in its 2030 Strategic Energy Development Plan. The Hydrogen Roadmap goes hand in hand with this strategy, setting out a detailed framework for its rollout in the short, medium and long term.
When it comes to technology, Castilla-La Mancha ranks third among Spain’s Autonomous Communities in renewable energy generation, which translates to a stable and competitive clean electricity supply. This strength is key to large-scale hydrogen production. Moreover, the National Hydrogen Centre in Puertollano boosts research, development and innovation in this emerging sector.
The region’s industrial fabric also plays a significant role in promoting renewable hydrogen. With industrial plants linked to energy production, the chemical industry and steel-making, the region can tap into synergies and make it easier to adopt hydrogen in different sectors.
Castilla-La Mancha is poised to play a leading role in the renewable hydrogen revolution thanks to this set of competitive advantages
