The president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, has affirmed that the agreement signed this morning with the energy operator Enagás is a step towards decarbonisation and the “economic and social sustainability” of the Valencian Community.
This was stated during the event in which he subscribed the general action protocol, together with the Chief Executive Officer of Enagás, Arturo Gonzalo, to promote the development of renewable hydrogen in the Valencian Community. The event was also attended by the Regional Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition, Isaura Navarro.
Ximo Puig pointed out that the commitment to green hydrogen constitutes a “disruptive change” and a “great opportunity to change our paradigm of growth and economic development” which, as he explained, will make it possible to generate the resources necessary to “consolidate the welfare state”.
During the event, the head of the Valencian Government referred to the difficulties that energy costs have caused in recent months, and expressed his conviction that “the only guarantee for the future is to continue along the path of decarbonisation”.
In this sense, he pointed out that “now is the time to accelerate the use of renewable energies” and ratified the Valencian Community’s commitment to move from being a community dependent on fossil fuels to achieving energy sovereignty and even becoming an exporter of renewable energy.
For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Enagás pointed out that the Valencian Community consumes 15% of the total gas consumed in Spain, as well as receiving 17% of the country’s total gas, which is why he assured that it is “a key player in guaranteeing security of supply in Spain and, therefore, security of supply in Europe”.
Arturo Gonzalo explained that the Levante Axis of the H2MED project will focus on the Valencian Community. This project involves the construction of 450 kilometres of hydrogen pipelines, which will connect to the south with the Cartagena hydrogen valley and to the north with the Ebro Axis, and with the Barcelona-Marseille hydroduct itself, known as the BarMar.
The estimated investment amounts to 575 million euros and will enable the consumption needs of the large industrial centres of the Valencian Community to be met, mainly the ceramics sector in Castellón, the chemical and petrochemical industries, and in general the industrial production of the Sagunt valley, Valencia airport and the three ports of the provinces of the Valencian Community.
Green hydrogen corridor
The agreement signed on Monday establishes the lines of collaboration to develop infrastructures in the Valencian Community for the transmission and storage of renewable hydrogen, considered a key energy vector for the energy transition.
The protocol is framed within the H2MED project, which proposes the creation of the first green hydrogen corridor in the EU. It will connect the energy network of the Iberian Peninsula with France and northern Europe, which will position Spain as the first green hydrogen hub in the EU.
In December, Enagás, together with the Transmission System Operators (TSOs) of Portugal and France, submitted H2MED as a candidate for European funding as a Project of Common Interest (PCI). This initiative envisages the implementation of the Cantabrian Coast Axis, the Ebro Valley Axis and the Levante Axis, which runs partly through the Valencian Community and will link Castellón with Murcia, as well as connecting with the Ebro Valley Axis. H2MED also includes the Via de la Plata and Northwest Axes.
It should be noted that in the Valencian Community the main beneficiary sectors of this initiative will be the ceramics sector in Castellón, the chemical and petrochemical industry and
the industrial environment of the Sagunt Valley, as well as Castellón Airport and the initiatives linked to the ports of the three provinces. These potential consumption centres will be particularly monitored by this agreement.
With the signing of this agreement, the Valencian Community takes a further step in its strategy to promote a sustainable regional economy and contributes to a just transition, all the while strengthening its socio-economic development. Enagás, for its part, reinforces the compliance with one of the objectives announced in the presentation of its 2022-2030 Strategic Plan: to boost infrastructures dedicated to renewable hydrogen.
