BP launches 2GW Spanish green hydrogen project

BP has launched plans for a green hydrogen cluster at its Castellón refinery, in the Valencia region of Spain.

HyVal is a public-private collaborative initiative focused on the phased development of up to 2GW of electrolyser capacity by 2030 for producing green hydrogen to decarbonise BP’s refinery.

Its production of biofuels is expected to increase three-fold, to 650,000 tonnes a year by 2030.

Green hydrogen will also be used as a feedstock in biofuel production, specifically of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The first phase, anticipated to be operational in 2027, will involve the installation of an electrolysis plant with at least 200MW capacity at Castellón refinery.

This initial stage would be expected to produce up to 31,200 tonnes of green hydrogen per year.

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.

HyVal was launched by Andrés Guevara, president of BP Energía España, in a presentation attended by more than 200 people, including Spain’s Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, and the mayor of Castellón, Amparo Marco.

Guevara said: “We see Hyval as key to Castellón’s transformation and critical to supporting decarbonization across the Valencia region.

“We aim to develop up to 2GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030 for green hydrogen production, helping decarbonise our operations and customers.

“And we plan to triple the refinery’s production of biofuels to help meet the growing demand for lower carbon fuels such as SAF.

“We believe HyVal can play an important role in Valencia region’s efforts to decarbonise and help support thousands of industrial jobs across the region.”

In addition to being used by bp at the refinery, the green hydrogen produced will also be used in key hard-to-abate industries in the Valencia region, such as the ceramics industry replacing the natural gas used in their processes, chemicals industries for the production of green ammonia and in heavy transport.

cover photo:: BP