Galicia advances in its transition to a more sustainable energy model with the development of green hydrogen. The region currently has 30 projects at various stages, with nine focused on R&D, four on equipment, and 17 on hydrogen installations, according to Mayte Gutiérrez Rosselló General Manager of AGH2.

However, despite this growth, no projects have yet been executed. While two, three, or four may begin construction by 2025, Gutiérrez Rosselló acknowledges in an interview with Energía Estratégica España that the sector faces delays of three to five years. This setback follows the deflation of the “bubble” that initially attracted speculators and investments from major companies.

This situation has impacted key initiatives, such as H2MED, where Galicia was excluded from the first PTI call. Nevertheless, Gutiérrez Rosselló clarifies that “Enagás has committed to including Galicia in the second call, and as an association, we are working intensively to demonstrate our capacity to develop hydrogen valleys with a European focus.”

Regulatory and Financial Challenges

One of Galicia’s significant challenges, and for the hydrogen sector in general, is the absence of specific regulations. “Currently, hydrogen is treated within gas regulations. Developing specific hydrogen regulations to clarify and unify criteria across the European Union is essential,” emphasizes the General Manager.

The AGH2 also highlights that the primary obstacle is the slow permitting process and the implementation of financial tools. “Most developers are willing to invest, but they need financing mechanisms to be more agile,” explains Gutiérrez Rosselló. This particularly affects operational financing, a critical aspect for project consolidation.

Promoting Hydrogen Consumption

Encouraging hydrogen consumption is crucial for the success of the energy strategy. “Galician industry has already taken a step forward, but now we must work on the other two pillars: mobility and domestic consumption,” she stresses. Gutiérrez Rosselló adds, “Domestic consumption is the hardest to implement because it requires communicating the benefits of this energy vector to society in terms of decarbonization.”

In terms of mobility, AGH2 is collaborating with the fuel supply chain to develop a strategy integrating hydrogen into this sector. “We hope to present concrete proposals within a reasonable timeframe, promoting a balance between industry, mobility, and domestic consumption,” she explains.

Dialogue with the Ministry for the Ecological Transition

With the recent appointment of Sara Aagesen as the new Minister for the Ecological Transition, AGH2 expects to establish open communication to drive projects in Galicia.

Although they have not yet had the opportunity to engage with her, Gutiérrez Rosselló affirms that they are “open to sharing the sector’s concerns and maintaining active collaboration.”