Wood to spearhead engineering on Spain’s Catalina green hydrogen project

Wood, a premier global consulting and engineering firm, has been appointed as the owner’s engineer for the Catalina Project, an ambitious green hydrogen production initiative in Teruel, Spain. This pioneering project, spearheaded by a consortium led by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners via its Copenhagen Infrastructure Energy Transition Fund I K/S, aims to leverage 1.5GW of wind and solar energy to fuel a 500-MW electrolyser for green hydrogen generation.

Wood’s role encompasses serving as the technical authority for the Catalina Project’s green hydrogen plant, guiding technology selection, conducting preliminary studies, and supporting front-end engineering design (FEED) and EPC tendering processes. This project signifies a major step towards meeting 15% of Spain’s current hydrogen demand, positioning Spain as a leader in the global green hydrogen sector. The hydrogen produced will be instrumental in decarbonizing the fertilizer and petrochemical industries and aligns with Spanish and European renewable hydrogen objectives.

Giuseppe Zuccaro, President of Process & Chemicals Projects at Wood, expressed pride in Wood’s involvement, emphasizing the project’s complexity and its role in setting a global precedent for large-scale green hydrogen production. This project not only highlights Wood’s hydrogen expertise but also strengthens its position as a preferred partner for hydrogen production and industrial decarbonization endeavors.

The Catalina Project, with its dual focus on green hydrogen and green ammonia production, is designed to produce up to 84,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually. This output corresponds to over 15% of Spain’s total hydrogen consumption, potentially avoiding more than 3.1 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions in its first decade. The initiative is expected to have a significant positive impact on the local economy, fostering job creation and attracting talent to the region.

Located in Teruel (Andorra), the project benefits from exceptional wind and solar resources, making it one of Europe’s prime locations for renewable energy production. The strategic placement of the Catalina Project is aligned with European and Spanish hydrogen infrastructure plans, with a dedicated 221 km pipeline facilitating this vision.

As Wood’s consulting and projects teams in Spain and the UK embark on this transformative journey, the Catalina Project stands as a testament to the potential of green hydrogen in driving sustainable industrial growth and energy transition efforts.

The Catalina Project’s ambitious goals underscore the critical role of green hydrogen in achieving global decarbonization and energy transition objectives. Wood’s involvement not only enhances the project’s technical prowess but also signals a strong commitment to sustainable energy solutions. As this project unfolds, it will undoubtedly serve as a blueprint for future green hydrogen initiatives worldwide, demonstrating the feasibility and impact of renewable energy-driven hydrogen production on a large scale.