The growing role of solar and wind energy
Accelerating green hydrogen production
One of the pillars of this roadmap is the expansion of green hydrogen production.
This gas, produced by electrolysis using renewable electricity, is considered essential for decarbonizing the industrial and transport sectors.
In its energy plan, Spain now plans to install 12 gigawatts (GW) of electrolysers by 2030, compared with the 4 GW initially planned.
This increase reflects the country’s determination to become a key player in the European hydrogen market.
Spain also plans to export some of this hydrogen to other European countries, notably via the H2Med pipeline linking Barcelona and Marseille, scheduled for commissioning in 2030.
This strategic project is part of the drive to strengthen energy links between European countries and create an integrated green hydrogen market.
Hydrogen produced in Spain could thus help other countries achieve their decarbonization objectives.
The challenges of achieving these objectives
However, a number of challenges remain.
Achieving these objectives will depend on the country’s ability to continue attracting investment in the infrastructure needed to support the expansion of renewable energies.
Integrating this new capacity into the national grid requires significant investment in storage and intermittency management technologies, both of which are essential to guaranteeing a stable electricity supply.
Furthermore, the development of green hydrogen relies on the creation of a clear regulatory framework, not only in Spain but also at European level, to support the production and export of this low-carbon gas.
The H2Med project, for example, can only be fully successful if solid commercial agreements are established with hydrogen-importing countries.
Spain is thus embarking on an ambitious path to transform its energy sector and strengthen its role as a green energy supplier on the European market.
The accelerated development of renewable energies and green hydrogen represents an opportunity for the country to reduce its energy dependency while contributing to Europe’s decarbonization objectives.
