Speaking in Huelva, the President emphasised that Moeve's Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley project represents "part of the solution" to the climate emergency and "the future of Huelva and Andalusia, and Spain's industrial and energy future".

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, speaks at the presentation of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley project (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, speaks at the presentation of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley project (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, emphasised that green hydrogen is a "national project" that helps to drive progress on climate action, energy independence and security. He also highlighted that projects such as Moeve's Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, in Huelva - which is about to begin construction and has received €300 million in public funding - represent "part of the solution to the climate emergency" and "the future of Huelva and Andalusia, and Spain's industrial and energy future".

He made these remarks during the closing ceremony of the event marking the start of construction of the Valle Andaluz in Palos de la Frontera (Huelva), which was also attended by the Third Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Sara Aagesen; the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla; and the Government Delegate in Andalusia, Pedro Fernández. The first phase of the project entails an investment of €1 billion, an initial capacity of 300 megawatts (MW) - expandable to 405 MW - and the ability to produce around 50,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year. In total, the Andalusian Valley could reach a capacity of 2,000 MW, an investment of €3 billion, and an output of 300,000 tons of green hydrogen.

After referring at the start of his speech to the wildfire in Huelva this past summer - the largest in recent history - the head of government noted that projects like the Andalusian Valley initiative "show part of the solution" to the climate emergency and are integral to the future of Huelva, Andalusia and Spain's industrial and energy landscape. Specifically, "to produce clean energy that can replace oil or gas in areas where they are still difficult to replace today", he said, so that industries and transport sectors that currently rely on fossil fuels can reduce their emissions by using clean energy produced here, thereby changing "our position in the world".

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, poses in the group photo in the context of the presentation of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley project| Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

"For decades, Spain and Europe have relied too heavily on energy supplied from elsewhere. We still do. Unfortunately, every international crisis reminds us of the enormous price we are paying for that dependence", he said. He therefore emphasised that producing more energy in Spain is a matter not only of climate action but also of autonomy and security. "We cannot leave our energy supply at the mercy of unjustified wars, tensions beyond our control, or the legitimate geopolitical interests of other powers - interests which are not our own - nor, of course, can we be left to pick up the pieces for those who turn energy into yet another pawn in their power games", he argued.

The president urged the country to "seize this huge industrial opportunity", given that "the energy transition is already driving investment - not just public, but also private - because it is also transforming our technology and creating jobs". In this context, he made it clear that "Spain wants to be among the countries leading this ecological transition, this energy transformation and, consequently, the green reindustrialisation of our country", with projects such as the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, which will bring "more clean energy, greater autonomy and more opportunities, in Huelva and across Andalusia". Its investment, capacity and annual renewable energy output "mean industries that can operate with lower emissions - preventing some 250,000 tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere each year - along with more than 3,700 direct jobs during implementation and the participation of over 400 small and medium-sized enterprises", he noted.

Pedro Sánchez highlighted that the government "has made renewable hydrogen a genuine national project". "When very few believed in it, we did; we have harnessed the expertise of the General State Administration and the resources of the Next Generation funds", with measures aimed at creating a market and stimulating demand, by introducing mandatory minimum targets for emissions reductions and the uptake of renewable fuels across all modes of transport.

"We want to provide investment certainty, expand supply and facilitate the realisation of industrial projects across the country", he stated, noting that the Government has already allocated over €3 billion to more than 120 renewable hydrogen projects - such asMoeve's Andalusian Valley project, which secured over €300 million in public funding. "We have supported the sector every step of the way - from research and technological development through to manufacturing, commercial roll-out and end-user consumption" - so that we not only produce green hydrogen molecules, but ensure they are produced using electrolysers, valves, compressors and other equipment manufactured in Spain. In this regard, he praised the impetus provided by an "ongoing dialogue with the sector", through the Renewable Hydrogen Advisory Group, to tailor regulations and support mechanisms to the industry's needs.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, listens to the explanation of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley project by the CEO of Moeve, Maarten Wetselaar| Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Furthermore, he announced that in the coming days, the Government will kickstart the administrative process for the initial sections of the hydrogen backbone network, which are designated asProjects of Common Interest (PCI). He pointed out that the Government's response to the crisis in Iran entails, not only protecting consumers and productive sectors, but also accelerating the energy transition. This involves "electrification, advancing renewable energy generation and replacing fossil fuels with renewable hydrogen in industrial sectors where this is the best solution, both now and in the future".

"A few weeks ago, when we looked at this province, we saw fire and suffering; today, when we look at this same region, we see investment, we see jobs, we see innovation and, therefore, we see hope," he emphasised, adding that, "in the face of the climate emergency, it is not enough simply to lament the consequences. We must tackle the root causes, and we can do so by simultaneously building - through public-private collaboration like the one we are showcasing today - a stronger, more prosperous and more sovereign country", he concluded.