Spanish energy companies Naturgy and Enagás Renovable have presented their project for the construction of a renewable hydrogen plant with a production capacity of up to 280 MW in La Robla.
The new plant is scheduled for commissioning in 2026 and will entail an investment of €485 million. it will be located on the site of Naturgy’s former thermal power plant which was authorized for definitive closure in 2023 and is currently in the process of being dismantled.
Naturgy and Enagás Renovable said they have launched the Robla Hub joint venture to carry out the project.
As explained, the development of the renewable hydrogen production plant in La Robla will be associated with the start-up of a photovoltaic solar generation project made up of various parks located in neighbouring municipalities, with a total capacity of around 450 MWp.
Although initially the maximum capacity of the renewable hydrogen production plant was 60 MW, the existence of potential industrial consumers in the area and the proximity to the future hydrogen pipeline trunk network will allow the electrolysis power to be increased to 280 MW, the partners said.
The plant is expected to prevent the emission of more than 430,000 tons of CO2 per year into the atmosphere, contributing to the decarbonisation of the industrial processes of companies in the area.
This renewable project is said to be in line with the decarbonisation objectives of the European Union, the renewable hydrogen roadmap of Spain’s Just Transition Strategy, and the RePowerEU Plan to promote energy independence in the European Union.
The development of this project reinforces the commitment of Enagás Renovable and Naturgy to the energy transition and to the mining regions within the framework of the just transition after the cessation of activities such as mining and coal-fired power plants, the partners claim.
This is not the first time that Enagás Renovable and Naturgy have joined forces to develop green hydrogen projects. In 2021, the companies teamed up to study the production of green hydrogen from a 250-megawatt offshore and a 100-megawatt onshore wind farm in Asturias, a region of northwest Spain.