Repsol to invest €400 million in a major renewable hydrogen project in Catalonia

Repsol has approved an investment of approximately €400 million to develop a 150-megawatt (MW) renewable hydrogen electrolyzer in Tarragona, Catalonia. The project, approved by the company’s Board of Directors, will be its largest electrolyzer to date and represents a significant investment in Catalonia’s industrial and energy infrastructure.

The facility will supply renewable hydrogen to Repsol’s Ecoplanta and other units at its Tarragona refinery, supporting the production of renewable fuels, including renewable methanol, and other low-carbon products. With an annual production capacity of more than 22,000 tonnes, the electrolyzer will contribute to the transformation and long-term competitiveness of one of Catalonia’s major industrial complexes.

It is expected to prevent the emission of up to 250,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. The project also envisages the possibility of supplying renewable hydrogen to the natural gas network and Spain’s Hydrogen Backbone Network in the future.

“This electrolyser and the Ecoplanta represent an integrated industrial platform that places Tarragona at the heart of our transformation”

Maribel Rodríguez, Repsol’s Director of Renewable Hydrogen

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The investment is expected to generate around 1,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs, primarily locally, across the different phases of the project. It will also help strengthen Catalonia’s industrial base and support the development of new capabilities in renewable energy and low-carbon manufacturing.

The partnership combines Repsol’s industrial capabilities and expertise in hydrogen consumption with Enagás Renovable’s specialization in developing green molecule production projects. Enagás Renovable is owned by Hy24 (80%) and Enagás (20%) and develops projects across Spain aimed at decarbonizing industry and heavy transport.

The Tarragona project has been selected to receive funding of up to €104 million as part of Spain’s national Hydrogen Valleys programme. Promoted by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, the programme is financed by Next Generation EU funds. The funding recognises the project’s scale and its capacity to connect renewable hydrogen production directly with industrial demand.

Repsol’s Director of Renewable Hydrogen, Maribel Rodríguez, said: “This electrolyzer and the Ecoplanta represent an integrated industrial platform that places Tarragona at the heart of our transformation. Together, they will enable us to introduce new technologies and capabilities to produce renewable fuels and low-carbon products at scale, strengthen the competitiveness of the complex and help maintain an essential, innovative and future-ready industry in Europe.”

Luis Iglesias, Director of Hydrogen Business Development and Operations at Enagás Renovable, said: “The Tarragona project builds on our partnership with Repsol and reinforces our commitment to bringing renewable hydrogen to locations where industrial demand already exists. It is a large-scale project that adds to the network of industrial hubs, positioning Spain as a leader in green molecules in southern Europe.”

Catalonia strengthens its position in the renewable hydrogen economy

The Tarragona electrolyzer will form part of two major initiatives supporting the development of the hydrogen economy in southern Europe: the Catalonia Hydrogen Valley and the Ebro Hydrogen Corridor.

The project highlights the role of Catalonia’s established industrial infrastructure in attracting investment in emerging energy technologies. By integrating renewable hydrogen production with existing industrial demand, the facility will support the transition towards lower-carbon manufacturing while reinforcing the competitiveness of the region’s industrial sector. One of the largest projects of its kind in Spain, the electrolyzer will incorporate advanced technology to maximize energy efficiency and will operate exclusively using recovered industrial water.

The Tarragona facility joins two other major renewable hydrogen projects announced by Repsol in Cartagena, also in partnership with Enagás Renovable, and Petronor. With its 150 MW capacity, the Tarragona electrolyzer will bring the combined capacity of the three projects to 350 MW.

Repsol is the Iberian Peninsula's leading producer and consumer of hydrogen. Its industrial facilities can produce about 360,000 tonnes annually, representing 60% of Spain’s production and 4% of European consumption. Since 2023, the company has been producing renewable hydrogen at a 2.5 MW electrolyzer that primarily supplies the Petronor refinery.

Source: Repsol