Italy commits to renewable hydrogen: millions in investments and key projects up to 2050
Dec 13, 2024
Innovative
Green hydrogen is generated through a process called electrolysis, using renewable electricity and water. This energy carrier does not produce carbon emissions and is therefore of great interest to those sectors that are not easily electrified.
Green hydrogen is thus a key element in the challenge of achieving climate neutrality and decarbonising the economy. Unlike other renewable energy carriers, it can be stored in a gaseous or liquid state, which makes it easier to manage.
Green hydrogen is thus a key element in the challenge of achieving climate neutrality and decarbonising the economy
In this sense, countries with abundant renewable energy resources can export green hydrogen to nations that do not have the capacity to produce enough renewable energy on their own, facilitating a global transition to cleaner energy.
Spain has multiple attributes to position itself as Europe’s leading renewable hydrogen hub. It is expected to have a production capacity of between two and three million tonnes by 2030
Its location in the Mediterranean region, as well as its proximity to the Middle East, could make our country a leader in the global hydrogen market. In addition, Spain’s climatic conditions and its significant capacity for renewable energy generation, together with the powerful network of existing infrastructures, make it an ideal location for the production of this energy carrier and its export to other regions.
The European Union is committed to the development of corridors to carry hydrogen from production areas to the places where it is consumed. One of the most prominent projects in this respect is the European renewable hydrogen corridor H2med, a key infrastructure that will allow the transmission of up to 2 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year. In other words, 10% of the expected consumption in Europe as a whole for 2030.
Green hydrogen aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7). As stated in the Global Compact, SDG 7 aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, with the goal of improving the living conditions of millions of people.
SDG 7 aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Sixty percent of global greenhouse gas emissions are a result of energy consumption, which remains the main cause behind climate change.
Although the global rate of access to electricity continues to increase over the years, 685 million people still lack access, as highlighted in a joint report by the IEA, Irena, WHO and the UN Statistics Division. At the current pace, some 660 million people will still be without electricity by 2030, 9 out of 10 of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, 1.8 billion people will still rely on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking and heating, according to the UN.
This is the reasoning why the organisation included Sustainable Development Goal 7 among the seventeen to be achieved by 2030.
The EU has set a goal of climate neutrality by 2050, and Spain is aligned with this commitment. It has tripled its six-year green hydrogen targets (from 4 GW to 12 GW) and is the country that has submitted the most projects – 46 out of 132 – to the European Hydrogen Bank, following the update of its National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC). This shows the country’s firm commitment to an energy transition with green hydrogen as one of its key elements.
The EU has set a goal of climate neutrality by 2050, and Spain is aligned with this commitment
Green hydrogen can be used in different fields, such as the chemical industry as well as in oil refineries; it can also be used in transport, making it a sustainable alternative for all types of mobility. In households, hydrogen can contribute to improving energy efficiency and minimising greenhouse gas emissions when used for power generation and heating.
Furthermore, the development of the green hydrogen sector will improve the competitiveness of the Spanish industry. It is expected that thousands of direct and indirect jobs will be created throughout the hydrogen value chain, from research and development to production and distribution.