The Government launches a second aid package for renewable hydrogen for 150 million

MADRID, 30 May. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has launched a second edition of the Incentive Program for pioneering and unique renewable hydrogen projects (H2 Pioneros II), endowed with another 150 million euros.

This new call, published this Tuesday in the Official State Gazette (BOE), is intended to encourage the implementation of innovative projects with commercial viability for local production and consumption of renewable hydrogen, especially in sectors where decarbonization is more difficult. , such as industry or heavy mobility, the Ministry reported.

The call period, which is part of the Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation of Renewable Energies, Renewable Hydrogen and Storage (Perte ERHA), of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), will be open between June and July 31.

The first call for the H2 Pioneros program, also endowed with 150 million euros, was resolved last April with the award of incentives for a total of 19 projects located in nine autonomous communities, nine of which are located in Just Transition areas. and/or Demographic Challenge. The winners included projects from companies such as Cepsa, EDP, Repsol, Enagás or Naturgy, among others.

The Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE), a body attached to the Ministry, will again manage these aids. They will be granted under a competitive bidding regime and will support initiatives that combine production, distribution and use of hydrogen in the same territorial location, provided that they are oriented towards the deployment of commercial applications and whose main value lies in the integration of the different phases of the supply chain. worth.

The type of eligible actions includes green hydrogen production facilities (with a maximum power of 50 MW of electrolysis), distribution, industrial uses and heavy mobility, as well as innovative stationary applications, such as ports, airports, logistics platforms and systems storage with re-electrification).

The maximum endowment that each file may opt for in this new call will be 15 million, provided that the project exceeds a minimum investment of one million. Both companies, consortiums or business groups may benefit -if they have at least one SME participation-, as well as entities from the institutional public sector, including those governed by private law that depend on public administrations, along with public universities and technology centers. attached.

Among the award criteria, in addition to the participation of SMEs, the effectiveness of public aid, the positive impact on islands, Just Transition and Demographic Challenge areas, the reduction of emissions and circular economy, job creation and equality will be considered. of genre.

These aids are part of the Government's 'road map' to make hydrogen a country project, a strategic document to promote renewable hydrogen which aspires to reach an electrolysis power of 300 MW to 600 MW in 2024 and of 4 gigawatts (GW) in 2030, 10% of the community target.