TARRAGONA NETWORK HYDROGEN

Introduction

The T-HYNET project’s main objective is to deploy a first-of-a-kind European large scale, 150 megawatt (MW) capacity, alkaline electrolyser at “REPSOL Petróleo” site in the Tarragona’s industrial area. The plant is planned to operate continuously and is expected to produce 2.7 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per hour. The plant will generate renewable hydrogen and oxygen to be used by local off-takers. It is planned that this project will achieve a 99.99% relative GHG emissions reduction when compared with the reference scenario.

Innovative Elements

The T-HYNET project will integrate four key innovative elements:

1. A 150MW electrolyser producing hydrogen from renewable sources. This will represent a breakthrough in alkaline technology in terms of larger stacks and modules, as well as higher operating pressure and efficiency.
2. Digital tools directed to electrolyser performance optimisation and monitoring.
3. Oxygen integration leading to its complete reuse for local industrial applications.
4. Increased water use efficiency (minimizing water discharge and maximizing water recovery).

It is expected that the project will have absolute greenhouse gas emissions avoidance of almost 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent over the first ten years of operation.

Contribution to European Strategies

The project will contribute to the European Hydrogen Strategy, supporting the deployment of domestic hydrogen production in the European Union. It will also contribute to the objectives of the REPowerEU strategy, particularly by helping reduce fossil fuel consumption in industry and transport.

The project will include technological developments in the electrolysis plant and digital tools to ensure smart management of the electrolyser. This will reduce the cost of renewable hydrogen production, increasing the competitiveness of the product and boosting its use and implementation in the entire value chain.

Impact on Renewable Hydrogen Production

The deployment of the electrolyser will enhance renewable hydrogen industrial production, presenting a cleaner, cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels for local off-takers. The location of the project is also highly relevant for supporting the uptake of a hydrogen ecosystem in the challenging industrialisation roadmap for Spain and Europe.

Socio-Economic Impact

The project is expected to have a positive socio-economic impact in the region. The economic benefits will impact:

• Technology providers
• Manufacturers of hydrogen production plants and their components
• Commercial industries in areas of maintenance and operation
• Mobility end users
• Research centres

It is expected to create more than 900 direct jobs and more than 1,100 indirect and induced jobs during the construction stages. By engaging with local stakeholders and off-takers, the project will develop a synergistic industrial network that will create a baseline for a deep decarbonisation transformation. This will kick-start an ambitious scalability plan to be implemented in Tarragona and beyond.