Spain allocates 415 million euros to European Hydrogen Bank initiatives to boost national projects
Spain will invest 415 million in the European Hydrogen Bank’s AaaS mechanism, supporting decarbonization and industrial heat projects.
Spain has committed to investing €415 million in the Auctions as a Service (AaaS) mechanism of the Innovation Fund, promoted by the European Hydrogen Bank, with the aim of fostering the implementation of this important technology throughout the European Union and in participating member states. This was announced by Sara Aagesen, Third Vice-President of the Government and Minister for Ecological Transition.
Additionally, our country will contribute 50 million euros to the first European auction of industrial heat within the framework of AaaS, intended to finance projects that seek the decarbonization of industrial thermal processes, as detailed by the Ministry.
During the closing session of the Q-Zero Alliance meeting, Aagesen emphasized that this investment brings the total to €3.155 billion “to make hydrogen a reality.”
He stated,
Ten years ago, talking about hydrogen seemed like talking about something in a laboratory or still in R&D. And now, however, we are seeing real projects reaching all parts of the country and providing a necessary solution to achieve decarbonization in our nation,
Spain’s participation in the Renewable Hydrogen AaaS aims to achieve the objective of allocating 100% of the funds for this strategic vector to the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. This will be Spain’s second contribution, following a budget of €376.9 million for 2024.
Regarding the industrial heat auction, the first of its kind organized by the European Commission, Spain will support projects in the areas of industrial heat electrification and direct renewable heat, combining both methods.
This additional contribution will be distributed across two of the three baskets included in the terms of the European Hydrogen Bank’s third auction, allocating €278.6 million to Topic 1 and €136.4 million to Topic 3, which focus on the production of non-biological renewable hydrogen. Furthermore, a redistribution of funds between topics is foreseen if the initially allocated funds are not exhausted.
For the industrial heat auction, 30 million will be allocated to low temperature and power projects, and 20 million to low temperature and medium power projects.
The deadlines for submitting guarantees and processing will be shorter than in previous calls, with a limit for the publication of final resolutions before August 31, 2026, financed through the Recovery and Resilience Facility within the framework of the PRTR.
Under the AaaS scheme, member states, such as Spain, can use these auctions to select and finance national projects that have not received community support, without needing to organize their own auctions.
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Spain allocates 415 million euros to European Hydrogen Bank initiatives to boost national projects, source
