GreenH2Atlantic hydrogen project in Sines obtains environmental license

Consortium moves into the next phase of analysis and integration of recommendations

The GreenH2Atlantic project for the construction of a 100 MW green hydrogen production unit planned for the site of the former Sines coal-fired power plant, to be developed by Hytlantic, has received last week a favourable conditional Environmental Impact Statement from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), an important milestone in the project’s development process.

Hytlantic, the company leading the GreenH2Atlantic project, will now analyze the recommendations and proposed measures, and how they can be integrated into the engineering designs. Having completed this important step, engineering activities and other studies will continue, in order to confirm the project’s economic viability and, subsequently, submit the final stage of environmental permitting, the Environmental Compliance Report for the Detailed Design (RECAPE). The implementation of the project remains subject to a final investment decision by Hytlantic, a decision that, among other aspects, will assess the existence of a regulatory framework favourable to the creation of a green hydrogen market.

This is another project that reinforces Sines’ position as a benchmark for green hydrogen production in the European landscape and may, in the future, establish itself as a hub attracting industries for which access to competitively priced green hydrogen is a critical production factor.

The project has received support from the European Union through the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme and Innovation Fund mechanisms, amounting to a total of €92 million.

Hytlantic is led by EDP and Galp and also includes Bondalti, Martifer, and Vestas Wind Systems A/S as shareholders. The project also includes ISQ, SIEMENS, INESC-TEC, HyLab, DLR (Germany), CEA (France) and Axelera (a public-private cluster) as technological and scientific partners.