bp: renewable hydrogen & ammonia in Valencia

bp will lead development of a renewable hydrogen cluster at its existing refinery in Castellón, Spain. A public-private consortium will steer development of up to 2 GW of on-site electrolysers by 2030. Renewable hydrogen feedstock will be key to decarbonising operations in Castellón, both by replacing fossil-based feedstock and via the production of biofuels. bp also indicates that hydrogen produced at the “HyVal” project will be used across the Valencia region in hard-to-abate industries: a combustion fuel in the production of ceramics, heavy transport, and for the production of ammonia.

The first, anticipated to be operational in 2027, will involve the installation of an electrolysis plant with at least 200 MW capacity at Castellón refinery. This initial stage would be expected to produce up to 31,200 tonnes of green hydrogen per year…[which will be] used first in the refinery and then in thermo-intensive industries and heavy transport. This green hydrogen will also be used as a feedstock for the production of SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel), at the refinery.

In the second phase, which could be completed in 2030, the electrolysis plant would be expanded to reach a capacity of up to 2GW of net installed power. Green hydrogen production from such a world-scale plant could support both regional and national demand, as well as positioning Valencia region to export green hydrogen to the rest of Europe through the Mediterranean corridor of green hydrogen H2Med.

HyVal project details, from bp’s official press release, 28 Feb 2023

bp aims to produce between 500,0000 and 700,000 tonnes per year of hydrogen by 2030, the vast bulk of which will be electrolysis-based. Along with the newly-announced HyVal, bp is also developing renewable projects in the UK, Australia and Germany.

Catalina

Also in the Valencia region is Project Catalina: a partnership between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Fertiberia, Vestas, Enagás and Naturgy to develop a renewable hydrogen production hub meeting over 30% of Spain’s current industrial demands. A newbuild ammonia production plant is part of the first phase of the project, as is the supply of renewable hydrogen feedstock to Fertiberia’s existing ammonia & fertilisers manufacturing complex in Sagunto. At full size, 5 GW of combined wind & solar generating capacity will power 2 GW of electrolysers – roughly the same size as HyVal.