thyssenkrupp nucera will assist in the design and engineering of the facility through to the final investment decision. The project will use 15 of thyssenkrupp nucera’s standardized scalum® electrolyzer units with a capacity of 20 MW each.
The first phase of the project is a green hydrogen production plant at Cepsa’s La Rábida Energy Park in Palos de la Fronter (Huelva) as part of their partnership with Fertiberia. With a production up to 47,000 tons green hydrogen per year, it will form part of Cepsa’s wider plans to develop 2 GW of green hydrogen capacity in southern Spain by 2030.
“We are very pleased to be working with an innovative partner to create one of the largest hydrogen valleys in Europe and to contribute to Cepsa’s path to a gigawatt capacity,” said Dr. Werner Ponikwar, CEO of thyssenkrupp nucera.
Cepsa is developing the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley as part of an ecosystem of European alliances, Europe’s largest green hydrogen hub to be developed. The company is one of the first movers in the creation of a green hydrogen economy in Spain, forging partnerships for a value chain that can scale up as demand grows. As part of this new market, there will be opportunities to develop assembly capability for electrolysis equipment in Spain, generating employment and protecting Europe from exposure to shortages of key equipment and long lead times from competitive markets.
“This is a decisive step in our Positive Motion Strategy as we move to become a leading producer of green hydrogen, developing vitally needed clean energy solutions for industry and heavy transport in Spain and across Europe,” said Carlos Barrasa, Cepsa’s Executive Vice President of Commercial and Clean Energies. “Our aimed work with thyssenkrupp nucera brings together leading European businesses to create a European green hydrogen supply chain and accelerate decarbonization across the continent.”
The green electricity required for the production process is to come from solar and wind energy, which is plentiful in southern Spain, making it one of the most competitive places in Europe for green hydrogen production. The region also has access to strategic ports, forming the basis for the maritime corridor that Cepsa has set up with partners to transport the hydrogen between southern and northern Europe, ensuring decarbonization solutions across the continent.
