Logroño, Feb 20 (EFE).- The company Solarig plans to invest 200 million euros in a new green hydrogen production plant in the El Sequero industrial estate in Arrúbal (La Rioja), which will mean the creation of 165 direct jobs and up to 300 with indirect positions.
The general director of this company, José Miguel Moraga, and the president of the La Rioja Government, Concha Andreu, have presented this project for the green hydrogen plant, which is a clean fuel, obtained from water through a hydrolysis process. , which will make it possible to replace fossil fuels and gain energy independence.
The new plant of the company Global Solar Energy Catorce SL (Solarig), according to Moraga, will allow savings in the emission of more than 13,000 tons of CO2 per year and will be able to start producing green hydrogen in the third quarter of 2025.
Solarig, which has 18 years of experience, has a workforce of 850 people and is present in 15 countries, where it has developed, built, financed and operated renewable energy plants, its CEO has reported.
50 operational plants in 2025
To finance the start-up of 50 plants in Spain and Italy, which will be operational by the end of 2025, the company has closed an investment vehicle with the investment bank Alantra for 1,700 million euros.
It has indicated that El Sequero has been chosen to locate its PRO2H2 Portillejos project due to its “premium” location, having nearby competitive solar energy, an available electrical network and another gas network with access to the NE corridor, access to a transportation network with the AP-68 and availability of water.
The El Sequero industrial estate also has new hydroducts (exclusive pipelines for hydrogen) projected for 2030.
The green hydrogen plant will be completed with another solar plant for self-consumption and, in addition, in the La Rioja municipalities of Agoncillo, Santa Engracia. Galilea and Ocón, it is planned to install another five solar projects.
Moraga has stressed that the residual water from the entire process will be drinkable and can be used for industrial or agricultural purposes.
La Rioja will lead the transition to hydrogen
Andreu has highlighted that this project, declared of regional strategic interest, will allow La Rioja “to help the rest of the country to lead the European transition towards the hydrogen economy” and has defended that this energy transformation attracts “wealth and jobs” for community.
“La Rioja has begun an unstoppable transformation process, with tangible results that benefit the entire territory”, he highlighted in relation to the Solarig plant, which will be “the largest private investment of this legislature”. EFE