Navarre's industry has taken a significant step in the energy transition with the commissioning of a Electrolyzer to produce green hydrogen at the Viscofan plant in CásedaThis is not a laboratory test, but a real installation integrated into an industrial process that until now has relied mainly on natural gas.
This advance is part of the H2OP project, in which local businesses, administration and technology come together to demonstrate that the renewable hydrogen It can meet demanding thermal needs in industry. There are clear objectives on the table: reduce emissions, gain energy sovereignty and generate knowledge that can be exported to the rest of Spain and Europe.
A 500 kW electrolyzer made in Spain to decarbonize Viscofan
The heart of the initiative is a 500 kW pressurized alkaline electrolyzerDesigned, manufactured, and assembled entirely in Spain by Nordex Electrolyzers, this equipment has been installed in the Viscofan facilities in Cáseda (Navarra)where it is already located operating continuously and supplying green hydrogen to power industrial boilers.
Thanks to this technology, the plant is able to generate around 100 Nm³/h of hydrogenThis allows for the substitution of some natural gas consumption in steam production. According to the consortium's estimates, this substitution It avoids approximately 480.000 tons of CO₂ per year, a considerable volume for a single industrial facility.
The commissioning has not been limited to the electrolysis machine. A water treatment and recovery plant to supply the system with the required flow and quality, and to recover as much of the water resource as possible, which fits with the commitment to efficiency and circularity in the process.
One of the most striking aspects of the project is the timeline. integration of the electrolyzer with the boiler and the rest of the teams have been completed in a a period of about two months, a relatively short time for a technology that is still emerging on an industrial scale.
H2OP: a strategic project for Navarre with European support
The deployment of Electrolyzer to produce green hydrogen in Cáseda It is not an isolated effort, but the first major visible milestone of H2OP project ("Development of Advanced Technologies and Asset Management Tools for the Efficient Production of Green Hydrogen for use in the decarbonization of Industrial Processes").
This initiative is part of the 2024-2027 call for strategic R&D projects of the Department of Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition of the Government of Navarre, within the Challenge 2 AERO VIII, aimed at promoting green energy industryIn other words, the goal is not only to demonstrate a specific case, but also to build replicable technological and business capabilities.
To that end, the project has a public funding of 838.428,98 euros, contributed by the Government of Navarre and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)This financial backing reinforces the idea that renewable hydrogen is already being considered as a strategic energy vector to improve competitiveness and reduce the carbon footprint of the industrial fabric.
The H2OP calendar extends until the end of 2026, a period in which it is expected optimize the operation of the electrolyzer, validate asset management models, refine integration with other teams and collect data to serve as a basis for future larger-scale projects in Navarre and other European territories.
An industrial consortium that combines hydrogen, water, and energy management
One of H2OP's strengths is the diversity of actors involved, covering the entire value chain related to the green hydrogen and the electrolyzerThe consortium is made up of Viscofan, Nordex Electrolyzers, URAPHEX and the Navarre Industry Association (AIN)each with a well-defined role.
Viscofan, with half a century of history in Cáseda and with a presence in more than a hundred countries, it acts as industrial user of hydrogen. The renewable fuel is used to generate the steam needed in the manufacture of casings for meat products and other related developments. nutrition and well-being, replacing a fossil fuel input with one of renewable origin.
Nordex Electrolyzers, for its part, is responsible for the design, manufacture and integration of the pressurized alkaline electrolyzerThe company, with headquarters in Navarre and Puertollano, had already developed 50 and 500 kW prototypes, and has recently launched the NX 2500, a 2,5 MW electrolyzer Conceived and produced entirely in Spain, geared towards larger-scale projects. The company was founded as joint venture between the public company Sodena and Nordex GroupThis reinforces the link between industrial policy and technology.
URAPHEX provides a key element that often goes unnoticed: the Water management and circularity in industrial processesTheir proprietary technology, which uses no chemicals, allows save up to 90% water In refrigeration, washing, and sterilization applications, it has already helped prevent the consumption of over one million cubic meters of water and the use of hundreds of tons of reagents. At H2OP, it ensures the efficient use and recovery of water resources, closing the loop around the electrolyzer.
Finally, AIN acts as lever for collaboration and technological support for the Navarrese industry. Their work focuses on supporting companies in the search for energy efficiency, self-consumption and decarbonization solutionsincluding the use of hydrogen, biogas, biomass and process electrification, as well as the life cycle analysis and carbon footprintIn this project, the partnership strengthens knowledge transfer and coordination between public and private partners.
Impact on the industrial energy transition in Navarre and Europe
The entry into operation of Electrolyzer to produce green hydrogen in Cáseda This marks a turning point for the Navarre region. Beyond the technical figures, the project is interpreted as a long-term industrial commitment to place Navarre at the forefront of the European energy transition.
The regional government emphasizes that this initiative strengthens energy sovereigntyIt diversifies supply sources and positions the territory as a testing ground for new decarbonization solutionsSodena's financial support for Nordex Electrolyzers, in its capacity as a shareholder, fits into this strategy of having proprietary technological capacity in electrolyzerswithout depending exclusively on foreign manufacturers.
For industry, the added value lies in hydrogen ceasing to be seen as an abstract concept and becoming integrated into specific production processesIn the case of Viscofan, the renewable fuel is used directly in boilers, a use representative of many European facilities that require high-temperature steam or process heat.
If the H2OP results confirm expectations, the model could replicated in other thermal energy-intensive sectors, such as food, chemicals, paper, light metallurgy, or even more demanding process heat applications. This would align with the European Union's objectives of expand electrolysis capacity and boost renewable hydrogen in industries that are difficult to electrify.
A project that combines technological innovation and public-private collaboration
The development of the electrolyzer and its integration into the Viscofan plant has been supported by a close collaboration between companies, technology centers and administrationThis scheme is considered key to accelerating the deployment of renewable hydrogen and reducing the gap between the laboratory and the industrial plant.
Nordex Electrolyzers uses H2OP to validate your electrolysis solutions under real-world conditionsto improve performance, fine-tune control systems, and lay the groundwork for future megawatt-scale equipment, such as the NX 2500. The project also serves to gather data on operation, maintenance and costsessential information when designing larger plants.
URAPHEX uses the case to demonstrate that a advanced water management It can go hand in hand with decarbonization. In practice, water circularity becomes a determining factor in ensuring that green hydrogen is truly sustainableespecially in areas with water stress or environmental restrictions.
AIN, as a reference agent for the Navarre industry, helps to disseminate the lessons learned already identifying new opportunities for hydrogen application in local companies, ensuring that the knowledge generated in Cáseda does not remain a single success story, but rather translates into a growing portfolio of projects in the region.
All of this is supported by the financial backing of the administration and European funds, which allow us to assume the technological and market risk associated with a technology still in the maturation phasebut called upon to play a relevant role in European climate objectives.
Overall, the implementation of green hydrogen electrolyzer at Viscofan It shows how a well-coordinated project between industry, technology and the public sector can move renewable hydrogen from paper to reality, reducing emissions, boosting local innovation and opening the door to new applications in Spain and the rest of Europe.