Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) is developing the first phase of Project Catalina in partnership with Enagás, Naturgy, Fertiberia and Vestas. Project Catalina is a pioneering green hydrogen and green ammonia GW-scale project that aims to bring the abundant renewable resources of Aragon to the industrial consumption points on the Spanish Eastern coast through energy-efficient and environmentally friendly infrastructure. Project Catalina intends to develop 5 GW of combined wind and solar in Aragon (Spain) and produce green hydrogen through a 2 GW electrolyzer. Once fully implemented, Catalina will produce enough green hydrogen to supply 30% of Spain’s current hydrogen demand.
Catalina Phase I is currently in an advanced development stage and is expected to be fully developed and permitted in less than two years. Construction is planned to start at the end of 2023. The project will consist of 1.7GW of wind and solar energy facilities as well as a 500MW electrolyzer capable of producing over 40,000 tons of green hydrogen per year. It will connect Aragón and Valencia via a pipeline transporting green hydrogen to supply a newly built, state-of-the-art green ammonia plant with annual capacity of 200,000 tons. Green ammonia will be further upgraded into green and sustainable fertilizers within Fertiberia’s existing assets at Sagunto (Valencia), a breakthrough in the decarbonization of the agriculture industry. The hydrogen produced will also be used for the decarbonization of other industrial processes and blending into the natural gas grid. Catalina Phase I is applying for grid connection in Andorra (Teruel), at the Mudejar auction, where it will have a large socioeconomic impact in local Municipalities.
Catalina will bring emissions reductions of 1 million tons of CO2e per year in its first phase, and up to 2.5 million tons per year when it reaches full implementation, a reduction during full implementation equivalent to the annual electricity use of nearly 2 million Spanish households.
Project Catalina will make a significant contribution to Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PERTE) on Renewable Energy, Renewable Hydrogen and Storage (ERHA), aimed at positioning Spain as a technology leader in the production and management of green hydrogen.
Engaging with local stakeholders and promoting local socio-economic development is a priority for Catalina. The Catalina consortium members firmly believe in Catalina’s significant contribution to sustainable job creation, R&D, and the promotion of new local value chains, all of which will contribute to boosting the local economy. During construction and installation, Catalina Phase I is expected to create up to 5,000 jobs.
Consortium members have signed a letter of intent committing to work together to realize the Project. The investment required for the project as well as the specific participation of each partner will be approved in due course.