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These converted infrastructures will allow the storage and management of climate-neutral molecules
The adaptability of existing gas infrastructures is key to their future. Among other issues, it opens up the possibility of reusing the current regasification plants so that, in a net zero horizon, they can work with decarbonised molecules, such as green hydrogen or ammonia. Thanks to these terminals, Spain will be able to meet the challenges of adapting to a sustainable energy system.
Spain currently has seven regasification plants located in Barcelona, Cartagena, Huelva, Gijón, Sagunto, Bilbao and Mugardos, making it the country with the most regasification plants in Europe.
They are key infrastructures for security of supply, both in our country and in the rest of Europe, and will play a fundamental role in the decarbonisation process.
Regasification plants contribute to meeting the challenges and ambitions set by both REPowerEU and AFIR (Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation) and the FuelEU Maritime Directive whose common aim is for the EU to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 values, and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Regasification plants contribute to meeting the challenges and ambitions set by both REPowerEU and AFIR and the FuelEU Maritime Directive
The strategic location of the regasification plants within the ports also makes them the epicentre of the green shipping corridors proposed by various European decarbonisation initiatives.
Enagás states that “it is our responsibility as asset manager to see how we can give a second life to regasification plants in a decarbonised horizon. We believe in a future where our gas assets are converted and adapted to service decarbonised molecules, such as renewable hydrogen and ammonia”. This is what makes them multimolecule plants.
Enagás has established some lines of study to promote the reuse of all its assets. “Extending their useful life is an effective circular economy measure with a direct impact on the reduction of emissions associated with the life cycle of the construction of the assets,” the company says.
When we refer to multimolecule plants, we are talking about those infrastructures that will make it possible in the future to store and manage climate-neutral molecules such as ammonia or synthetic methane, as well as liquid hydrogen (LH2) and CO2.
In this regard, the University of Oviedo and Enagás have signed a business collaboration agreement that launches the Chair for the Development of Sustainable Energy Carriers.
The agreement, which was signed in April 2024, outlines a joint collaboration framework to carry out a technical-economic study to adapt Musel E-Hub in Gijón as a multimolecule plant.
This initiative will serve to develop a feasibility study of the new sustainable energy carriers
This initiative will serve to develop a feasibility study of the new sustainable energy carriers in the context of the energy transition, as well as for the selection of the best future alternatives for the Musel E-Hub plant, such as renewable hydrogen or CO2 transmission and storage, among others.
The Chair, which will have a validity period of four years, is the first of a long-term collaboration in which the two entities will promote R&D projects and activities aimed at the social promotion of research and technological development.
This agreement is part of the initiatives envisaged within the framework of the Enagás Corporate University, the aim of which is to promote knowledge development in the field of sustainability and decarbonisation.