The Andalusian Energy Agency, an entity attached to the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines of the Regional Government of Andalusia, is leading a new European project called “COMPiTE,” which aims to promote green hydrogen as a key vector for the decarbonization of Southern Europe. This initiative falls within the framework of the POCTEP Spain-Portugal Cross-Border Cooperation program and seeks to create a collaborative environment between Andalusia and the Portuguese regions of Algarve and Alentejo that fosters technological innovation and the use of renewable energies.
It will achieve this through the development of training activities, exchange of experiences, and knowledge transfer that, in turn, complement and strengthen employment and training policies in these territories. To this end, the Andalusian Energy Agency will be responsible for analyzing the context and energy policies of the participating regions in order to identify opportunities for their industries related to green hydrogen. Subsequently, a cross-border roadmap for renewable hydrogen will be designed, inspired by the one already implemented in Andalusia, outlining the necessary actions for the development of this energy vector.
A series of courses will also be launched to train companies, employees, and professionals; thematic workshops will be held to exchange experiences and best practices among competent energy authorities; and seminars will be conducted to transfer knowledge and promote technological innovation between universities and research centers. The University of Cádiz, another of the Andalusian partners in the project, along with the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), will be responsible for designing and implementing this training program, which aims to leverage the experience and knowledge of professionals from other energy sectors to specialize them in green hydrogen.
In this regard, the preparation of this project for approval by the European Commission has taken into account the fact that both Sines (Alentejo) and Los Barrios (Andalusia) have promoted Territorial Plans and Just Transition Agreements to mitigate the impact of coal-fired power plant closures. Workers from these plants can benefit from training that will enable them to work in green hydrogen plants.
Southern Europe as a European Green Hydrogen Valley
Spain and Portugal are the countries with the greatest potential to play a leading role in the development of green hydrogen at the European level, primarily due to their excellent geographical and climatic location, as well as the existence of a robust infrastructure network. This facilitates the creation of a future European hydrogen valley in southern Europe. In fact, they are at a crucial juncture to attract investment, promote innovation, and commit to a new model around this emerging value chain. Therefore, training and professional development for workers in the energy sector are essential.
While the share of renewables has grown in recent years, the availability and deployment of innovative technological solutions, such as green hydrogen, requires a sufficient number of trained workers and professionals to enable large-scale implementation. In the specific case of Andalusia, the region has numerous competitive advantages for developing the value chain for the production and transport of green molecules. These include its abundant renewable energy resources, a strategic location as a gateway to Europe, Africa, and the Americas, infrastructure such as the seaports of Huelva and Algeciras, and the current demand for hydrogen from the industrial sector in Andalusia.
In this regard, the Regional Government of Andalusia, through the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mines, has launched several initiatives to promote its development. Among them is the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Alliance, a public-private partnership tool to leverage the opportunities presented by the application of new technologies for the production, storage, distribution, and use of renewable hydrogen. and the Green Hydrogen Roadmap for Andalusia, which includes the development of Andalusian Hydrogen Valleys, the identification of strategic locations for its production, the conversion of production spaces to adapt them to its consumption, the strengthening of the knowledge network and specialized training, and support for investments with incentives, among other actions. Furthermore, the Andalusian Energy Agency is a member of Hydrogen Europe, a platform that cooperates with European Union institutions to accelerate the industry.
Image of The Andalusian Energy Agency
Press release( translated by Google) https://h7.cl/1h4pe
