Repsol SA has announced a pause in its renewable hydrogen investments in Spain, which encompass a total electrolyser capacity of 350 megawatts across three significant projects.
According to a spokesperson for Renewables Now, this decision is primarily attributed to an unfavourable regulatory environment, particularly the local government’s plan to make the windfall tax on energy revenues a permanent fixture.
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The suspension directly impacts a 150-MW project planned for the company’s industrial complex in Tarragona, as well as two additional projects, each with a capacity of 100 MW, located at its complexes in Bilbao and Cartagena.
As a result, Repsol will now only proceed with one electrolyser project in Sines, Portugal.
The Renewables Now report mentions that the spokesperson highlighted the European Commission’s report released at the end of the previous year, which pointed out that, given the positive economic trends observed, there were no compelling reasons to maintain the temporary taxes imposed in various EU countries, including Spain.
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Spain aims to achieve a notable target of 12 GW of renewable hydrogen capacity by the year 2030. Repsol noted that its suspended projects accounted for over 90% of the 370 MW in the country approaching a final investment decision (FID).
This pause in investments could have implications for Spain’s broader renewable energy goals, raising concerns about the pace of progress in the hydrogen sector amid changing regulatory landscapes.