The consortium of the Basque Hydrogen Corridor was formalized today at the Euskalduna Palace in Bilbao in a ceremony presided by the Basque Government’s Minister of Economic Development, Arantxa Tapia, the Deputy General of Bizkaia, Unai Rementeria, the Mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto, and the President of Petronor, Emiliano López Atxurra, the company that, together with its main shareholder Repsol, is leading the initiative, with the participation of 78 organizations (8 institutions, 12 knowledge centers and business associations and 58 companies), including Somorrostro as the only VET center in the Basque Country.

Hydrogen will be the protagonist in Euskadi’s transition towards climate neutrality. The Basque Hydrogen Corridor Project, BH2C, is an initiative that will contribute to change the energy and economic model to advance in the decarbonization of strategic sectors such as energy, mobility, industry and services. It is a bet for the industry, born in the Basque Country by the hand of Petronor-Repsol, which also incorporates organizations from other territories, and that will mean an economic reactivation, through the development of the techno-industrial chain of the hydrogen economy.

The project will have an investment of more than 1,300 million euros until 2026, and will generate more than 1,340 direct jobs and 6,700 indirect jobs.

The Basque Hydrogen Corridor has its origin in Repsol’s strategic decision to invest in Euskadi in projects that involve further progress in the energy transition and thus achieve its goal of being a zero net emissions company in 2050. In addition, Petronor is committed to turning the Basque Country into a hydrogen hub, making a definitive shift towards a green productive economy.

This project is based on a comprehensive strategy that includes 34 projects throughout the value chain and aims to be a lever to transform the productive chain and maintain the weight of the industry in our economy. Among them are projects that have to do with the “heart” of the hydrogen economy, such as the installation of an electrolyzer factory, the development of the fuel cell, the development of the hydrogen plant (hydrogen dispenser) and with mobility applications, the development of the hydrogen bus and train. The projects that make up the initiative are grouped into:

– Production of renewable hydrogen and synthetic fuels.

– Mobility – Distribution logistics.

– Decarbonization of industry.

– Urban and residential uses

– Infrastructure.

– Industrial technology development

 

The investment during these first years will be allocated to the development of renewable hydrogen production, infrastructures and applications required for the deployment of the Basque Hydrogen Corridor.

On the one hand, the investment of 650 million euros in renewable hydrogen production with an installed capacity of 112 Mw, for which three facilities will be built. Petronor’s first one, which will be in operation in 2022, will have a capacity of 2 MW and will be used to feed the Abanto Technology Park. The second Petronor, EVE and Enagas facility, which will be operational in 2024 and located in the Port of Bilbao, will have 10 Mw, and its production will be destined to the synthetic fuels plant. The third, which will be in operation by 2025, will have 100 Mw and will serve to decarbonize Petronor’s production process as well as supply the needs of the Corridor itself.

 

In addition, a biogas manufacturing plant will be installed to produce hydrogen from solid urban waste.

Furthermore, 250 million euros will be allocated for technological and industrial development throughout the value chain and digitalization, and 50 million euros for research into hydrogen applications in mobility, the residential sector and industry.