The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) is placing the Archipelago at the cutting edge of clean energy innovation with the construction of Spain’s first offshore renewable hydrogen production facility. The groundbreaking project is part of H2VERDE, co-financed by the Government of the Canary Islands and the Next Generation EU-funded Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR). It aims to drive decarbonization, energy independence, and support the Blue Economy, while reinforcing the region’s sustainability goals.
Green hydrogen, produced from renewable sources like solar, wind, and marine energy, offers a clean alternative to fossil fuels. It allows for efficient energy storage and transport without generating emissions, a crucial step in reducing the Archipelago’s 95% dependence on imported fossil fuels and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
“In island territories such as the Canary Islands, green hydrogen is a strategic solution to harness local renewable energy and ensure a reliable, sustainable power supply,” said Adriana García, project manager for renewable energy at PLOCAN.
Offshore Hydrogen Innovation off the Coast of Gran Canaria
PLOCAN’s hydrogen plant will be installed on its oceanic platform, located 1.5 kilometers off Gran Canaria. The facility will include:
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A solar- and wind-powered electrolyzer that produces hydrogen by splitting seawater.
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A fuel cell to convert stored hydrogen back into electricity.
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Battery systems for energy storage.
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Spain’s first marine-based hydrogen refueling station, designed for forklifts and, eventually, ships, gliders, and other marine vehicles.
With a projected annual capacity of 15,000 kilograms of renewable hydrogen, the plant will operate as a real-world laboratory to test hydrogen applications in offshore and maritime environments—pioneering sustainable innovation, training skilled professionals, and supporting research and development in clean energy technologies.
The hydrogen produced will power PLOCAN’s own offshore platform, making it fully energy self-sufficient and saving more than 200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year.
“Green hydrogen presents a tremendous opportunity to diversify our economy, create high-quality jobs, and establish the Canary Islands as an international leader in clean energy and the Blue Economy,” said Alejandro Romero, coordinator of the H2VERDE project.
He emphasized the broader impact, noting that green hydrogen could help cut global CO₂ emissions by 20% and make up 20% of the EU’s energy mix by 2050, particularly in hard-to-decarbonize sectors like maritime and heavy transport.
A Scalable Model for Island Energy Independence
The project also tackles energy sovereignty in the Canary Islands, where annual fossil fuel imports cost Spain nearly €90 billion, with €18 billion attributed to the Canary region alone. By demonstrating the technical feasibility of renewable hydrogen in isolated systems, PLOCAN’s project is expected to serve as a replicable model for other island and remote regions worldwide.
Beyond environmental impact, the initiative will spark technological innovation, knowledge transfer, and foster a new green industrial sector, supporting Europe’s broader hydrogen strategy and energy transition goals.
Public Funding and Strategic Investment
The H2VERDE project is supported by a €6 million direct grant awarded to PLOCAN by the Government of Spain under Component 17 of the PRTR plan, focused on R&D partnerships with autonomous communities. The investment falls under the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), reinforcing the public, social, and economic interest in transitioning toward sustainable energy.
By positioning hydrogen at the core of its decarbonization strategy, the Canary Islands are setting a powerful precedent for resilient, clean energy systems in island environments.
