The Energyear H2 congress highlights green Hydrogen as an engine for the decarbonization of transport and logistics

Today Madrid has become the epicenter of hydrogen in Spain with the first edition of the Energyear H2 congress. With this congress, Energyear wanted to maintain its identity of seeking the best Networking, but also an ecosystem where the most relevant players in the H2 sector have been present. This conference has allowed us to discuss all the topics of interest that are emerging in the H2 industry.

The day began with the presentation "Roadmap of H2 in Spain and Europe: H2med 2030" with Emilio Nieto, general director of CNH2. During the presentation, Nieto gave a brief summary of the current panorama of the Hydrogen market in Europe and in Spain. He has also spoken about the future prospects and the need to support the sector from the public, but also from the private sector “The moment of hydrogen is today and it is true, Europe already has an investment plan and they are going to bet on it. But it is very important that there is a public-private collaboration. In Spain we are used to subsidies, but there is no money to fully cover the energy transition. That is why companies have to bet on hydrogen and put money. The administration has the good will to contribute money and above all, not to interfere with this transition”.

The next presentation was "Market panel - what challenges must hydrogen overcome to integrate into the Spanish energy matrix?", made up of Jesús Gil, Renewable Gases Infrastructure Director of Enagás, Alan Ripa, CEO of Acciona Plug, Maribel Rodríguez, Manager hydrogen business development at H2 REPSOL, Daniel Fernández, Director of Strategy, Public Affairs & Chief Regulatory Office at Engie and Ana María Vidaurre, Head of Global M&A Energy Transition - Renewables & Hydrogen at CEPSA. Jose Antonio Vizner, CEO and founder of Negocios TV acted as moderator. During this Daniel Fernández commented that, although hydrogen has great advantages, it is not the total solution, “it seems that hydrogen responds to everything, but hydrogen is not the great miracle. It certainly has great potential, but it is not a substitute for the current great powers. Hydrogen should be used to decarbonise those sectors that have more difficulties to decarbonise in other ways”.

The day continued with the debate “Development panel: business opportunity and requirements to develop an H2 project”, moderated by Blanca Montero, Senior Associate Attorney at Osborne Clark. It was made up of Mareva Edel, Deputy CEO of Groupe Qair, José Luis Martínez, Head of Business Development at Diverxia H2, Carlos Tarrio, Head of New Technologies at Ingenostru, Holger Thomsen, Head of Energy Solutions at PNE, Olivier Crambade, CoFounder of DH2 Energy and Dolores Sánchez, Director of Business Development at ALPIQ. One of the main topics of the talk was the great challenge facing the market in terms of communication. “One of the great challenges is the social issue and communication. The implantation is going to have a great impact in the countryside and in the local communities, and this must be explained well. We must educate in the hydrogen economy, what it contributes and that it will create employment. You need to invest in education. And for this you have to learn to communicate”, summed up Olivier Crambade.

The next panel was the Regulation panel: the development of green h2 and its integration with renewables: current regulations, adaptation needs and the requirements of the H2 GDO, made up of Luis Castro, Partner and Head of Energy of Osborne Clarke Spain. , Jose Luis Cabo, Deputy Director General of Hydrocarbons and New Fuels of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Jose Manuel Pérez, Director H2 Regulation and Government Affairs of EDP, Nevin Alija, Vice-Chair of the Distribution Committee of EUROGAS, Débora Prada, Senior Manager of H2 Business Development at RIC Energy, Luis Miguel Varela Cabo, Technical Director of Asociacion Gallega H2, and moderated by Yerun Fernández, Market Segment Leader, Spain & Portugal at DNV. The talk revolved around the recent approval of the European delegated act and the need for clear legislation to give stability to the market. “Right now the legislation creates a dilemma, we want it, because it gives stability, but we don't want it, because it limits us. What the sector asks for is a minimum regulation, which recognizes that the market is in an embryonic state and that legislates with that in mind. Because the lack of regulation is a problem in demand. Nobody risks investing because if there is no legal certainty”, commented Luis Miguel Varela Cabo.

After this debate, the round table "Technology panel: how technological evolution affects the hydrogen business model" began, with the participation of Harkaitz Ibaiondo, Director of the Ingeteam Green Hydrogen business unit, Dirk Bauerkämper, Head of Market Management New Energy from Weidmueller,