A delegation from Japan visits Catalonia to establish synergies in the green hydrogen field

​​​​​​​A delegation of thirty Japanese companies and organizations visited Catalonia this week to explore the green hydrogen ecosystem and foster collaborations between the two regions. The delegation participated in a work session at Catalonia Trade & Investment’s headquarters with Jaume Baró, the agency’s CEO.

Baró opened the session with a presentation on Catalonia’s strategy to advance a renewable hydrogen economy. He highlighted: “Industrial decarbonization is a priority for Catalonia and for the Government, which has been a pioneer in implementing policies in this domain”, such as the Catalan Center for Industrial Decarbonization and the Hydrogen Valley.

According to Catalonia Trade & Investment’s CEO, Catalonia boasts “a unique concentration of factors that make it particularly suited for developing hydrogen as an energy vector,” including a robust industrial base, a significant chemical sector, and a world-class infrastructure network. “In Catalonia, we are working tirelessly to achieve a climate-neutral energy model by 2050, and we believe green hydrogen is key to achieving this goal,” he concluded.

Prominent Japanese companies participating in the meeting included AGC Chemicals, Asahi Kasei, Chubu Electric Power Company, Kobelco, Mitsubishi Corporation, MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Corporation, The Kansai Electric Power, Toray Industries, Yanmar Energy System International, Yokogawa, and Nedo.

Institutional representatives included Akiko Shikata, Consul General of Japan in Barcelona; Tomohiro Takashima, Executive Vice President of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO); Shinichiro Miyaguchi, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Spain; and Hiroyuki Kitahara, President of the Association of Japanese Businesspeople in Spain (SPAIN NISSHO).

The event also featured Joaquim Daura, President of the Energy Efficiency Cluster of Catalonia, who presented the cluster’s hydrogen working group. The session concluded with a roundtable showcasing the experiences of Catalan companies in the sector, followed by a networking meeting among attendees from both regions.

As part of the business mission, the Japanese delegation will visit Tarragona to explore the region’s industrial assets positioning it as a leader in the industrial energy transition. Highlights include visits to the Port of Tarragona and the Southern Industrial Park, with meetings planned with local managers and socioeconomic representatives.

Catalonia’s Green Hydrogen Ecosystem

Today, 198 companies in Catalonia are working in various stages of the hydrogen value chain, 41% more than in 2022. This is one of the findings of the Hydrogen in Catalonia study, drawn up by Catalonia Trade & Investment, giving an updated overview of the sector’s health in the region. The report highlights that these companies collectively generate a turnover of €700 million (+64%) with a total workforce of 2,313 people (+74%).

Of these companies, 60% are involved in hydrogen transformation, transport, and storage, while 26% focus on production. Additionally, over half (53%) are exporters. The study also identifies 14 Catalan research centers and 14 universities and training institutions offering education in this field.