The recent session focussed on advances in several leading Basque initiatives in the hydrogen sector, including the Basque Hydrogen Corridor, headed by PETRONOR, IBERDROLA’s IBERLYZER initiative and hydrogen strategy, and the BENORTH2 project currently underway at the Amorebieta combined-cycle plant, presented by SENER and NORTEGAS.

The Basque Energy Agency (EVE) also presented the Basque Hydrogen Strategy for the first time, the aim of which is to set conditions for the production, storage, transport and local distribution of renewable hydrogen. These conditions will also serve to establish a logistics centre to play a leading role on the international market. The goals for 2030 include attaining 300 MW in installed electrolyser capacity, and for hydrogen to make up 5% of total power consumption in the industrial sector.

The attendees then heard pitches from BUREAU VERITAS, EHERSA, LOINTEK and SIEMENS ENGINES, companies active in the sector, regarding their capacities and possible partnership opportunities. The Basque Energy Cluster presented a draft Basque Country hydrogen capacity catalogue, intended as a key element for advertising the particular strengths of the Basque Country in the area. The session ended with a talk on the Basque Hydrogen Corridor Knowledge Campus by UPV-EHU, an initiative being developed alongside MONDRAGON UNIBERTSITATEA and SOMORROSTRO TRAINING CENTRE, which aims to offer a coordinated response to training requirements arising over the coming years in regard to hydrogen applications.

The programme of the event ran as follows:

10:00 Welcome and introduction (ACE)

10:05 Advances in the Basque Hydrogen Corridor - BH2C (PETRONOR)

10:45 Basque Hydrogen Strategy (EVE)

11:15 IBERLYZER Initiative (IBERDROLA)

11:45 Break

12:00 BENORTH2 project at Amorebieta CC (SENER, NORTEGAS)

12:30 Pitches (BUREAU VERITAS, EHERSA, LOINTEK, SIEMENS ENGINES)

13:10 Draft Basque Country hydrogen capacity catalogue (ACE)

13:35 BH2C talent driver initiative (UPV-EHU)

14:00 End of session

The session was well received, gathering together 255 representatives from 170 sector agencies. The next session is to be held before the summer, and will be open to all members of the Basque Energy Cluster and its partner associations.