Spanish utility Naturgy Energy Group SA (BME:NTGY) and gas infrastructure firm Enagas SA (BME:ENG) are poised to secure a €42 million (USD 45.1 million) funding boost from the European Union for their ambitious La Robla green h2 initiative in the Castile and Leon region of Spain.
This financial support, proposed by the European Commission under the Innovation Fund, advances the project towards finalizing the grant agreement, as announced by the Robla Hub joint venture (JV) on Monday.
The partnership, comprising Naturgy and Enagas Renovable—the renewable gases division of Enagas—unveiled this green venture nearly a year ago, outlining an investment plan of approximately €485 million.
Set to be developed on the site of Naturgy’s decommissioned La Robla thermal power station, which is scheduled for complete dismantlement in 2024, the green hydrogen production facility is designed to boast an electrolysis capacity of up to 280 MW. Additionally, the project includes the construction of several solar farms in the vicinity of La Robla to supply clean energy for the electrolyzers.
Aiming to significantly contribute to the decarbonization of both mobility and industrial processes, the La Robla project has identified Fertiberia, a leading fertilizer manufacturer, as its principal green hydrogen consumer. Fertiberia, which played a pivotal role in securing the project’s EU funding proposal, is expected to integrate the green hydrogen produced at the forthcoming plant into its operations, as highlighted in the recent announcement. This collaboration underscores the growing importance of green hydrogen as a key component in achieving a sustainable and low-carbon future for various sectors.
