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MITECO opens the public information period of the “Hydrogen Roadmap: a commitment to renewable hydrogen”

By July 29, 2020 6   min read  (1046 words)

July 29, 2020 |

Hydrogen Spain 2
  • Contributions may be sent until September 11
  • The document aims to identify the opportunities offered by hydrogen technologies for the country’s industrial value chain

The Roadmap, with 57 measures, establishes objectives for 2030 and offers a vision for 2050 so that renewable hydrogen contributes to Spain achieving climate neutrality and a 100% renewable electricity system in the middle of the century

The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has opened today, Wednesday, July 29, the public information period of the “Hydrogen Roadmap: a commitment to renewable hydrogen”, a document that aims to provide the appropriate signals to promote the development of these technologies in Spain, with great potential for the country’s industrial value chain and to consolidate a 100% renewable electricity system before the middle of the century.

The draft of the Roadmap includes 57 measures to, among other issues, prepare the regulatory framework and favor research and innovation, and sets goals by 2030, including achieving an installed capacity of electrolyzers, the system to obtain renewable hydrogen using water and electricity of renewable origin as raw materials, of at least 4 gigawatts (GW).

The document is consistent with the European Hydrogen Strategy, which was approved by the European Commission on July 8, with the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) 2021-2030 and the Long-Term Strategy 2050.

It defines the opportunities that hydrogen opens for Spain, among which its contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions stands out, for each kilogram of renewable hydrogen that replaces an existing consumption of non-renewable hydrogen, 9 kg of CO2 are avoided to the atmosphere. In addition, it will allow the penetration of a higher percentage of renewable energy into the electrical system; will help decrease national energy dependency; it will favor the decarbonisation of isolated energy systems, especially island ones; and will help Spain to maximize its potential, in terms of job creation and economic activity, associated with the energy transition.

In addition to its potential as an energy vector, by allowing energy storage in the short and long term, which provides manageability to the system; Hydrogen has other advantages such as its use in fuel cells or its possible production from sustainable biogas from the agricultural sector or urban solid waste, thus promoting circular economy.

Hydrogen technologies are interesting in various fields, including residential, but their industrial applications stand out. In fact, at present, the industry is the main user of hydrogen in Spain, with a consumption of around 500,000 tons per year, mainly produced from natural gas. In this case, the replacement by renewable hydrogen represents an opportunity for decarbonisation of the sector, which can also incorporate it into new segments.

Another area with special potential is that of mobility, especially in applications that find greater difficulties in decarbonisation by means of electrical solutions, such as the case of heavy transport of goods by road, rail on non-electrified lines or aviation.

GOALS TO 2030

The Roadmap sets targets for the deployment of hydrogen by 2030 and, secondly, designs a vision for 2050, when Spain will have to achieve climate neutrality. Looking ahead to the next decade, and in a manner consistent with the goals set by the European Commission, the document establishes the following objectives for Spain:

o Production: 4 GW of installed electrolysis power, which represents 10% of the target set by the European Commission for the EU as a whole.

o 25% of the consumption of industrial hydrogen of renewable origin in 2030.

o Regarding mobility, for that year, a fleet of at least 150 buses is planned; 5,000 light and heavy vehicles; and 2 commercial train lines powered by renewable hydrogen. Similarly, a network should be implemented with a minimum of 100 hidrogeneras and machinery for handling propelled with hydrogen in the first 5 ports and airports.

57 MEASURES

The document proposes a set of 57 measures, grouped into 4 areas of action. Firstly, regulatory actions are included, including, among others, the introduction of a system of guarantees of origin, to ensure that hydrogen has been produced from 100% renewable energy. A second chapter is devoted to measures of a sectoral nature, to encourage the use of renewable hydrogen and the launch of projects in areas such as industrial, energy or mobility.

On the other hand, the Road Map includes measures of a transversal nature to promote knowledge of the potential of renewable hydrogen in society as a whole; and, finally, the promotion of R & D & i linked to these technologies is addressed, reinforcing the role of the National Hydrogen Center as a public institution of reference.

The public consultation period for the Road Map will last until September 11. Contributions can be made via email [email protected] .

Summary

The Hydrogen Roadmap: a commitment to renewable hydrogen aims to guide and promote the deployment and development of renewable hydrogen in Spain, due to the important role it must play on the path towards climate neutrality in 2050. Renewable hydrogen is a flexible and energetic vector that allows sectoral integration and energy storage, also contributing to the decarbonisation of those sectors in which electrification is not the most efficient solution, developing innovative industrial value chains in Spain and in the EU , and a green economy with high added value.

The roadmap is fully aligned with the European Strategy hydrogen ( EU Hydrogen Strategy ) published on 8 July by the European Commission, aimed at developing the role of hydrogen clean in reducing emissions from EU economy in a way efficient. Both documents conceive in a first stage the replacement of the current production of hydrogen, of fossil origin, with renewable hydrogen, reducing emissions efficiently and anticipating technological maturity for its expansion to other areas of the economy.

The purpose of this public consultation is to publish a text on which to collect, directly or through its representative organizations, the opinion of citizens and entities potentially involved in the hydrogen value chain.

Submission deadline

Deadline to present allegations  from Wednesday, July 29, 2020  until Friday, September 11, 2020

Presentation of allegations

The allegations may be sent to the email address: [email protected] indicating in the subject: “Hydrogen Roadmap”

Only responses in which the sender is identified will be considered.

In general, the responses will be considered non-confidential and freely available. The parts that are considered confidential must be specifically indicated and delimited in the comments, giving reasons for the qualification.

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