Smartenergy, a Swiss investment firm, is advancing its Orange.bat project, which will seek to drive the decarbonization of the ceramics sector in Castellón through the use of green hydrogen . The 100 MW plant, to be installed in Onda (Castellón), will become the first in the Valencian Community to receive environmental approval to operate with green hydrogen.
This approval, known as the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), allows the company to move to the next phase, obtaining the Integrated Environmental Authorization (IEA).
Benefits for the ceramic industry
Orange.bat’s 100 MW electrolyzer will be capable of producing 16,446 tons of green hydrogen annually, supplying local businesses, especially in a sector that struggles to electrify, such as the ceramics industry. This project is estimated to prevent the emission of 108,000 tons of CO₂ annually , significantly contributing to reducing the region’s carbon footprint .
Furthermore, the Valencian Government has recognized this project as a Priority Investment Project, which grants Smartenergy administrative advantages that will accelerate the implementation process.
The plant, expected to be operational by May 2028 , will generate 34 direct jobs and more than 150 indirect jobs, in addition to spurring the creation of new jobs as the project progresses.
Green hydrogen for industry and a promising future
The Orange.bat project is part of the company’s global strategy, which includes other green hydrogen projects in Europe , highlighting Portugal with a production capacity of 230,000 tons of eSAF (electro-sustainable aviation fuel) through the use of renewable hydrogen.
Onda’s strategic location, close to the region’s main hydrogen consumers, and the local government’s drive, suggest a promising future for the project and its contribution to the energy transition in the ceramics industry .
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Source and photo: Smartenergy
