The countdown for the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley enters a decisive phase: the first works in Huelva are planned for the coming months, with the aim of ensuring that the schedule does not slip beyond the end of the year.
Driven by Moeve (formerly Cepsa) , the project has been recognized as a Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) and is progressing with institutional support from the Regional Government and the Central Government, in a context where the energy transition demands accelerating the pace.
Start-up in Huelva: 400 MW plant and works at La Rábida park
The first phase, known as Moeve Onuba , will be located in the La Rábida energy park (Palos de la Frontera) and is set to begin construction shortly after the public announcement made by Maarten Wetselaar, who placed that milestone "in the coming months".
The design includes 400 MW of electrolysis power to produce renewable hydrogen with clean electricity, which will supply both its own facilities and industrial customers in the area, as well as users of heavy land, sea and air transport.
Alongside the main plant, key infrastructure will be implemented: two underground 220 kV lines from the Palos and Colón substations for electricity supply, as well as auxiliary services that will allow an estimated reduction of 480.000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.
The process has advanced with the inclusion of the project in the Project Accelerator Unit of the Junta de Andalucía and with public aid already granted: the 303 million of the PERTE for hydrogen for the initial phase stand out, while technical aspects such as the connection capacity to the Huelva electrical node have been specified.
San Roque: green ammonia, 1.000 MW, and a phased deployment
The second leg of the Valley will be deployed in the San Roque energy park (Cadiz) , with work scheduled to begin in November 2026 and an entry into operation from 2030 onwards , to reach its full performance around 2033 within the maritime hydrogen corridor between Andalusia and Rotterdam.
This development, known as “Moeve Carteia,” envisions a plant for the production, storage, and distribution of green ammonia from hydrogen (up to 1.000 MW of electrolyzers) and renewable nitrogen. It will be implemented in two identical phases, each with 500 MW of electrolysis capacity and a production capacity of approximately 2.400 tons per day (600.000 tons per year) of ammonia.
In economic terms, the Cadiz plan has a total budget of 3.067 million euros , divided into two stages of 1.533 million, according to the environmental and integrated authorization documentation already submitted to the Junta.
Industrial impact, employment and institutional support
The initiative has the IPCEI seal , which endorses it as a strategic piece to achieve the EU's decarbonization goals by 2030, and aims to mobilize an overall investment of around 4.000 billion considering all its parts, also activating thousands of jobs during construction and operation.
According to the company's management, progress is being made "by leaps and bounds" with the aim of moving quickly to capture the opportunities of the energy transition, guided by climate commitments and the need to reduce emissions that are difficult to overcome in industry and transport.
International framework: the impetus of the First Movers Coalition
The announcement of the timetable was made during Spain's accession to the First Movers Coalition (FMC), a World Economic Forum initiative that seeks to activate demand for clean technologies in sectors with a large carbon footprint such as aviation, maritime transport , road and steel, favoring zero-emission solutions towards 2030.
The meeting, attended by representatives of the Government and major energy and infrastructure companies, highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships to accelerate flagship projects such as the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, which has received public funding and priority processing.
With construction in Huelva about to begin and a roadmap finalized for San Roque, the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley is shaping up to be a productive hub capable of supplying intensive industries and promoting new clean fuels, supported by the administration and with deadlines and figures that point to a sustained deployment in the next decade.