First development phase of Project Catalina launched

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has announced a partnership with Enagás, Naturgy, Fertiberia and Vestas to build a project for the large-scale production of green hydrogen and ammonia in Spain, creating up to 5,000 jobs and saving up to 1 million tons of Co2 each year, the company said. Project Catalina intends to develop 5GW of combined wind and solar in Aragon, Spain, and produce green hydrogen through a 2GW electrolyser. Once fully implemented, Catalina will produce enough green hydrogen to supply 30% of Spain’s current hydrogen demand.

Catalina Phase I is currently in an advanced development stage and is expected to be fully developed and permitted in less than two years. Construction is planned to start at the end of 2023. The project will consist of 1.7GW of wind and solar energy facilities as well as a 500MW electrolyser capable of producing over 40,000 tons of green hydrogen per year. It will connect Aragón and Valencia via a pipeline transporting green hydrogen to supply a newly built, state-of-the-art green ammonia plant with annual capacity of 200,000 tons. Green ammonia will be further upgraded into green and sustainable fertilisers within Fertiberia’s existing assets at Sagunto (Valencia), a breakthrough in the decarbonisation of the agriculture industry. The hydrogen produced will also be used for the decarbonisation of other industrial processes and blending into the natural gas grid. Catalina Phase I is applying for grid connection in Andorra (Teruel), at the Mudejar auction, where it will have a large socioeconomic impact in local Municipalities.

Catalina will bring emissions reductions of 1 million tons of CO2e per year in its first phase, and up to 2.5 million tons per year when it reaches full implementation, a reduction during full implementation equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 2 million Spanish households.

Consortium members have signed a letter of intent committing to work together to realize the Project. The investment required for the project as well as the specific participation of each partner will be approved in due course.

Søren Toftgard, partner at CIP said ”I am very proud to announce Project Catalina, a pioneering initiative in Europe for the large-scale production of green hydrogen and green ammonia. Spain, and in particular Aragon, offers good conditions for the development of this technology due to its excellent solar and wind resource, the political backing as well as the proximity to demand centers. We look forward to continue working with our partners to bring this project to life”.

Marcelino Oreja, CEO of Enagás, pointed out that “This Project to develop green hydrogen in Spain is the result of a common understanding of these international sector leading partners. It reflects our aim to contribute to decarbonization, in a way that is compatible with promoting a competitive industry and job creation, as well as extending the energy transition to all territories, leaving no one behind”.