The BH2C positions itself as a world reference in Hydrogen Valleys at the EHEC 2024.

The BH2C has enjoyed considerable visibility in the plenary and parallel sessions of the European Hydrogen Energy Conference (EHEC), positioning itself as a benchmark and role model in hydrogen valleys in the presence of key players in the sector.

On the one hand, in Plenary Session 1: Green Hydrogen Production, Transport and Distribution, Tomás Malango, Director of Hydrogen, Renewable Fuels and Circular Economy at Repsol, explained how they are promoting the creation of large regional hubs around renewable hydrogen, and highlighted the importance of the BH2C to position the region as an international benchmark.  

In the same Plenary Session 1, Juan Villar, General Manager of Gas Distribution at Nortegas, explained the company's short-term vision on the development of efficient and competitive hydrogen valleys to help hard-to-abate industries to access green hydrogen. Specifically, Nortegas is behind the first projects to show significant progress in these areas: the construction of the first hydrogen pipeline in Spain, making the Abanto Technology Park a pioneering business space in Spain in the supply of renewable hydrogen, and the H2SAREA project, which demonstrates that natural gas distribution networks are prepared for up to an 80%-20% blend with hydrogen.

Nippon Gases was also present at the conference, with a presentation in Plenary Session 2: Uses of Hydrogen in Industry and Mobility, given by Joaquin De Diego, Director of Combustion Applications for Europe at Nippon Gases Euro-Holding.   

In the block of parallel sessions, Izaskun Gorostiaga, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Nortegas, represented the BH2C in Parallel Session 1: "Roadmaps, Strategies & Networks", presenting the opportunity for the Basque Country to establish itself as a key region within the hydrogen ecosystem and showcasing some of the key milestones reached in the projects on which work is already underway.

Several BH2C R&D projects were also presented in the parallel rooms. Fran Fernández from Tecnalia presented EKARRIH2, Olaia Gordo from Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa presented H2MAT, Ricardo Mezzacasa from Tecnalia presented ONTZHI, and Iñigo Santamaria from Team Ingeniería presented H2SALT.

The technology and research centres Tekniker, Tecnalia, Ikerlan, UPV/EHU, CIC EnergiGUNE, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, and Cidetec, as well as the Fundación Hidrogeno Aragón / Aragon Hydrogen Foundation (FHA) and the National Hydrogen Centre (CNH2), and the companies Orkli, Nortegas, Técnicas Reunidas, Sener, Sarralle, Ibil, Bureau Veritas, H2SITE, Repsol and Petronor, also took part in the parallel sessions.

Finally, the BH2C has also had a considerable presence in the exhibition area of the conference, where it has participated in a joint stand organised by the Energy Cluster, offering attendees a unique opportunity to connect with the Basque Country and its business network.

Source: BH2C