The first green hydrogen corridor will link two of the most important ports in Europe: to the south, Algeciras, where Cepsa is the main electricity company; and to the north, the Port of Rotterdam, so that the supply is guaranteed at both points. This new ‘highway’ for transporting green energy is expected to be operational in 2027.
Cepsa plans to export the hydrogen produced at its San Roque Energy Park, located near the Bay of Algeciras, through energy carriers such as ammonia or methanol, to Rotterdam.
This facility is the most important energy port in Europe, as it manages 13% of European energy demand, while the Port of Algeciras is the first port in Spain, the fourth in Europe and a strategic center on the trade route between Europe and Asia.
With the support of the Dutch Government, and as part of Rotterdam’s energy transition plans, the Port Authority and numerous private companies present in the port area are developing the necessary infrastructure and facilities for the import of green hydrogen and its distribution in the northwestern Europe, connecting large industrial centers in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany by means of pipelines. For its part, Cepsa is the main energy company in the Port of Algeciras.
This supply of green fuels will contribute to decarbonizing industry and maritime transport in the Bay of Algeciras and Rotterdam, while supporting the European Union’s RePowerEU strategy, which aims to guarantee Europe’s energy security and independence and stimulate production of clean energy.
This trade route is expected to be operational in 2027. Cepsa also intends to develop a similar supply chain from its La Rábida Energy Park in Huelva.
Maarten Wetselaar, CEO of Cepsa, highlighted that “the opportunity to build the first green hydrogen corridor in Algeciras, the leading Spanish energy port, demonstrates the unique role that Spain, and in particular Andalusia, will have in Europe’s energy transition. Spain is ideally positioned to become a world leader in the production and export of green hydrogen, given its strategic location, abundant renewable energy generation, and its solid energy infrastructure and key ports, such as those in Algeciras and Huelva. Andalusia’s main energy company wants to play a fundamental role in realizing this vision”.
In its Positive Motion strategy, Cepsa aspires to lead the production of green hydrogen in Spain and Portugal in 2030, with a production capacity of 2 GW in its San Roque (located near Algeciras) and Huelva Energy Parks, half of the objective current set by the Spanish Government, and become a relevant player in Europe.
To generate the renewable energy necessary for its production, Cepsa will develop a portfolio of 7 GW of renewable, wind and solar projects, in addition to working hand in hand with other renewable energy producers in Andalusia to promote the integration of these new plants in the system electric.
