Heroes in the field
Fostering local resilience with renewable hydrogen
In northeastern Spain's province of Teruel, the Catalina project is poised to revolutionise the region and its industry. Conducted by RHC supporter Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), the project combines Spain's excellent wind and solar resources to scale up renewable hydrogen production at the national and European levels.
Building the clean industry of tomorrow
The Catalina project is a world-leading initiative, aiming to develop 1.1 GW of combined onshore wind and solar photovoltaic plants, along with a groundbreaking 500 MW electrolyser. Over 84,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen will be produced annually (at full capacity), accounting for over half of the hydrogen consumed in Aragon, Valencia, and Catalonia and more than 15% of Spain’s current hydrogen consumption, providing the country with a unique opportunity to lead the green revolution in Europe.
The renewable hydrogen produced will be supplied to a green ammonia plant through a dedicated hydrogen pipeline spanning 221 km. The project paves the way for the deployment of the European Hydrogen Backbone, allowing the wider distribution of renewable hydrogen in regions that are less blessed with renewables but crucially need to decarbonise.
Catalina’s ambition to build hydrogen pipelines fuels ambition to build a robust EU wide hydrogen infrastructure, exemplifying the power of collective action. With every pipeline laid, Europe inches closer to an energy system where renewables can flow freely over long distances and a greener tomorrow.
Emissions reduction, sustainable food practices and beyond
The significance of the Catalina project extends far beyond energy production. It serves as a catalyst for decarbonising industries in Aragon, Valencia, and Catalonia, delivering remarkable benefits. Within the first ten years, a staggering 3.1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions will be saved.
This will significantly contribute to help tackle the challenge of decarbonising hard-to-electrify fertilizer production sector, a high-priority area within the EU. Through the establishment of a renewable hydrogen production centre in Aragon, connected to Fertiberia’s plant in Sagunto, a cutting-edge facility will emerge, capable of annually producing 200,000 tons of green ammonia. Beyond cutting carbon emissions, the advanced hydrogen plant design will optimize water consumption, reflecting the importance of responsible resource management. This paves the way for more sustainable food practices while strengthening the food independence of Spain and the entire EU.
A massive job creation opportunity
Beyond its environmental benefits, the Catalina project aims to make a tangible difference for the local economy and community. The project will generate employment opportunities and attracts young talents to the region. During the construction and installation phases alone, 8,000 jobs intend to be created, providing a significant boost to the workforce in the region. Recognising the importance of skill development and in line with the European Year of Skills, a dedicated training centre will also be established as part of the project to recruit among the local population.
By enabling hard-to-electrify industry to decarbonise with renewable hydrogen, creating thousands of local jobs and fostering sustainable regional economic growth, the Catalina project will not only help achieve the national and European targets for hydrogen, it will propel the northeastern Spain’s province of Teruel to the economy of the 21st century.
