Spanish energy firm breaks ground on ‘Europe’s largest’ green hydrogen plant

Moeve

EUROPE’s largest planned green hydrogen plant is on the move, with Spanish energy firm Moeve recently breaking ground on its Onuba project in Huelva, Andalusia.

The plant is part of the first phase of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, led by Moeve, which looks to produce 2GW of electrolysis capacity and give Spain a “leading role” in the global green hydrogen market.

Once up and running, Moeve expects the plant to produce 45,000t/y of hydrogen from renewables, while avoiding 250,000 t/y of CO2. The hydrogen will be used for fuel in transport, namely automotives, aviation and maritime transport.

The company received planning permission for the project in March, with a final investment decision of €1bn (€1.15bn). It will use this for the Huelva plant and associated infrastructure, which will include a photovoltaic plant for self-consumption.

Moeve has packaged its expected hydrogen production as the development of “green molecules”, which represent a wider range of chemical compounds than renewable energy. This also includes biofuels and ammonia.

A recent report from Moeve and PwC found that green molecules could halve Europe’s external energy dependence by 2040 and replace up to 50% of the region’s current fossil fuel demand by 2050.

Maarten Wetselaar, CEO of Moeve, said: “The Onuba project reinforces Spain’s position at the forefront of Europe’s sustainable energy production and represents a decisive step towards a more competitive and energy-independent Europe.”

After securing a connection to the Spanish power grid earlier this year, Moeve expects the Huelva facility to begin operation in 2029.