Moeve Launches Construction of Europe’s Largest Green Hydrogen Project
With an investment of €2.4 billion, Moeve is anchoring from Huelva the development of the largest green molecules hub in Europe’s energy sector, integrating this first green hydrogen plant and a second-generation (2G) biofuels plant. These are two of the four largest industrial projects currently under construction in Spain.
Moeve has celebrated the start of construction of the first phase of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen project.
“Onuba” is the name for the first phase of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley. Located at Moeve's Energy Park in Palos de la Frontera (Huelva), Onuba will have an initial 300 MW of electrolysis capacity, with the option to expand by an additional 105 MW. The project represents a joint investment of more than €1 billion, including associated infrastructure. During the development, construction and commissioning phases, it is expected to generate more than 8,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs across the value chain and support the economic activity of more than 400 local SMEs and self-employed businesses.
The project, led by Moeve with a majority 51% stake, benefits from a strong shareholder structure that combines industrial and financial expertise through the participation of Hy24, the world's largest clean hydrogen private equity asset manager, and COFIDES, Spain's public-private finance institution, as strategic partners with a combined 29% stake. The remaining 20% is jointly held by Enagás Renovable, one of Europe’s leading developers of renewable gas projects, and Alter Enersun, a company dedicated to the development of renewable electricity generation facilities.
The facility will be capable of producing approximately 45,000 tons of renewable hydrogen annually, avoiding around 250,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year, equivalent to the emissions generated by the internal combustion vehicle fleets of the cities of Huelva, Cádiz and Jaén. The hydrogen will be used to support the more sustainable production of fuels for road, aviation and maritime transport, while also helping to decarbonize other industries.
The new plant will deploy advanced technological solutions that will help shape the emerging hydrogen market while redefining energy engineering standards as the company's first digitally-native facility. From the design stage, the installation incorporates a digital twin and a unified data and IoT platform, laying the foundations for safer, more efficient and predictive operations.
This first phase of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley has been designated by the European Union as a Project of Common Interest (PCI) and has secured €304 million in funding from the Spanish Government under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, financed by the European Union through NextGenerationEU. The funding forms part of the Renewable Hydrogen Valleys support program and will support the development of 405 MW within the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley.
Maarten Wetselaar, CEO of Moeve, commented: "Once again, we are turning ambition into tangible reality. Today, we are turning the page on green hydrogen pilot projects towards the chapter of large-scale construction. The Onuba project reinforces Spain’s position at the forefront of Europe’s sustainable energy production and represents a decisive step towards a more competitive and energy-independent Europe.”
Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, commented: “The recognition of this plant as a Project of Common Interest by the EU reflects its strategic importance and contribution to the transformation of our energy system. The energy transition should not be viewed as a cost to industry, but as an opportunity to make it stronger, more innovative and more autonomous. For this reason, the start of construction of the Onuba project is very good news for Andalusia, Spain and Europe as a whole.”
