Report: Spain advances in the development of renewable hydrogen with investments and new projects
- contact88196
- Feb 17
- 2 min read
Renewable hydrogen is one of the pillars of the global energy transition, and Spain has been consolidating itself as a leader in this sector. The update of the AeH2 2024 Project Census , promoted by the Spanish Hydrogen Association (AeH2) , reveals significant progress in the structuring of a robust production chain, with 361 active projects in different technological upgrade advances. With an estimated total investment of 36.37 billion euros , of which 2.65 billion euros are financed by the public sector , Spain seeks to accelerate this strategic energy source.
Expansion of electrolysis capacity and targets for 2030
The AeH2 survey indicates that, by 2030, the installed electrolysis capacity could reach 23 GW , if the 167 commercial projects are fully implemented. This number exceeds the official target of the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) 2021-2030 , which establishes 12 GW as the objective. The expectation is that this infrastructure will enable the annual production of 2.9 million tons of renewable hydrogen , positioning the country as one of the leaders in Europe in this emerging market.
However, the challenges are still significant. Many projects do not have defined start dates , which makes it uncertain whether they will meet the established goals. In addition, there is a variation in the composition of funding depending on the stage of the projects: while research projects depend mainly on public funds , commercial projects face financial and marginal obstacles to guaranteeing demand for progress.
Regulatory challenges and proposals to accelerate the sector
Despite the significant growth in private investment and initiatives, the AeH2 2024 Project Census identifies three main barriers to the development of renewable hydrogen in Spain:
Lack of consolidated demand : the absence of guaranteed buyers (offtakers) makes it difficult to advance commercial projects.
Limited access to public financing : bureaucracy and lack of incentives directly impact the economic options of projects.
Uncertain regulation : lack of a clear regulatory framework prevents more solid strategic planning.
To mitigate these obstacles, AeH2 advocates measures such as improving the transposition of the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) , expanding tax incentives and simplifying access to public funds to support renewable hydrogen . Furthermore, public-private collaboration is seen as an essential element to ensure that Spain continues to advance as a global leader in the hydrogen economy.
