The Port of Alicante launches the tender for its first renewable hydrogen plant

The Port of Alicante launches the tender for its first renewable hydrogen plant

The Port Authority of Alicante (APA) has approved the call for tenders for the construction and operation of a renewable hydrogen production and supply plant at dock 19, a key project in its commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of the port area. 

This initiative is part of the roadmap promoted by the president of the Port Authority of Almería (APA), Luis Rodríguez, aimed at transforming the port into a smart, green, innovative and competitive energy hub in the Mediterranean.

The plant is part of the PORTALI-H2 project and represents a decisive step forward in the integration of clean industrial technologies, with the aim of improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions associated with both port operations and maritime and land transport linked to the port.

To produce and supply renewable hydrogen from the site itself.

The facility will allow for the production, storage, and supply of renewable hydrogen from the site itself, facilitating the incorporation of more sustainable mobility and logistics solutions for ships, port machinery, and land fleets, the Port Authority of Almería (APA) announced in a statement on Wednesday.

The tendering of this plant gives concrete substance to the commitment expressed by Rodríguez to develop a port geared towards decarbonization, in line with the European Green Deal and the strategic framework of the state port system. 

In this roadmap, green hydrogen, along with electrification and other renewable energies, is positioned as a central lever to progressively reduce the port’s carbon footprint and strengthen its long-term competitiveness.

The purpose of the competition is to select the offer that will be processed for the granting of an administrative concession for the construction and operation of a renewable hydrogen plant at the southern end of dock 19, with a concession period of 30 years. 

Main features of the competition and the plant

The Port Authority is making available to the future concessionaire an area of ​​approximately 500 square meters (m2) for the plant, as well as more than 3.000 m2 additional on the breakwater for the installation of sustainable electricity generation systems, such as solar or wind power, which will power the production process.

The technical solution must include an electrolyzer capacity of around 1 MW and a design that minimizes the visual impact of the buildings, while guaranteeing the highest standards of safety and environmental compatibility.

 Interested companies must submit a basic project for works and facilities, an operating plan, a strategic and commercial plan, and an economic-financial report that demonstrates the viability of the project and its effective contribution to the port’s sustainability objectives.

Commitment to renewable energy and carbon footprint

The specifications stipulate that the plant will be powered primarily by renewable energy generated within the port area itself, reinforcing energy self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. 

This approach will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the Alicante port, by offering clean alternatives for both ship energy supply and port machinery and services, according to APA.

Furthermore, the initiative is integrated into the Strategic Agenda for Energy Transition and Efficiency that the Port Authority is developing to configure a low-emission, digitized and resilient management model, open to the participation of the port community, companies and administrations. 

With projects such as the VAHIA 2030 cluster and the future renewable hydrogen plant, the port of Alicante is positioning itself as a testing ground and driving force for the green hydrogen revolution in the province.

Call for business and technology collaboration

The Port Authority has emphasized that this competition is designed to foster competition and collaboration with companies specializing in hydrogen and renewable energies, promoting the implementation of innovative solutions in the port environment. 

The renewable hydrogen plant aims not only to reduce emissions, but also to attract investment, generate knowledge and consolidate an advanced energy ecosystem that positions the Port of Alicante as a benchmark for sustainability in the Mediterranean region.

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The Port of Alicante launches the tender for its first renewable hydrogen plant, source