BENORTH2: Green hydrogen plant onsite at the Amorebieta CCPP

Project description

BenortH2 is an initiative which is being taken forward onsite at the Bizkaia Energía combined cycle power plant in the town of Amorebieta, Bizkaia. The end goal is to set up a hydrogen production plant using electrolysers, with storage and compression facilities and delivery to offtakers.

The electrolysers will be powered by renewable energy from the grid through a virtual PPA, whilst the green hydrogen produced will be used as a replacement fuel for natural gas to decarbonise the combined cycle power plant itself, for transport purposes and for consumption in local industry as a replacement for fossil fuels.

The project is being taken forward in three phases:

- Phase 1: 5 MW of electrolysers to be installed, with 3,500 kg of H2 storage for consumption in the combined cycle plant, for industrial consumption and for private fleets of heavy vehicles.

- Phase 2: 15 MW of electrolysers to increase the consumption of the combined cycle power plant, and to service other industrial customers and transport needs in the area.

- Phase 3: 200 MW of electrolysers for a total production of around 16,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year, for other uses and for export.

In these later phases, plans are also in place to collaborate with local industry in adapting consumption and generating new demand. Support will also be provided for the conversion of transport fleets and special vehicles, investing in new hydrogen distribution infrastructure with hydrogen refuelling stations, direct or virtual physical delivery to customers, and connection via a specific pipeline to the Nortegas network for blending with natural gas.