On 30 June 2026, the CyLH2 Valley held the fifth session of its Learning Capsules series, “RFNBO Using Industrial Projects”. Organized by our partner Lhyfe, the webinar welcomed speakers from leading industrial projects, hydrogen associations and technology developers, who shared practical experience from large-scale hydrogen deployment in the steel, chemical and refining sectors.
Industrial hydrogen moves from demonstration to deployment
The session traced the full development cycle of industrial hydrogen projects, from renewable hydrogen production and its integration into existing industrial facilities to the economics, regulatory frameworks, market development and infrastructure that shape deployment. Speakers agreed that large-scale industrial hydrogen projects are progressing across Europe, particularly in steel, chemicals and refining, proof that the technology is ready for industrial deployment, even as it continues to face significant economic challenges.
Participants noted that project competitiveness depends above all on access to affordable renewable electricity, though supportive regulation, grid access, available infrastructure and long-term off-take agreements all play a part too. Refineries, chemicals and green steel emerged as the most promising early markets for renewable hydrogen, driven by decarbonisation targets, regulatory requirements and rising demand for low-carbon products.
Case studies: green steel in Sweden, renewable hydrogen to replace grey hydrogen in a refinery in Spain
Two projects illustrated how this competitiveness picture, affordable electricity, supportive regulation and strong early demand, plays out on the ground.
Stegra’s Boden Green Steel Project (Sweden): presented by Gotzon Gomez Sarasola, Head of Spain and Portugal Project at Stegra, as Europe’s most advanced hydrogen-based steel project. It combines a 740 MW electrolyser with direct reduced iron (DRI) production and electric arc furnace steelmaking, and is expected to produce around 100,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year and 2.5 million tonnes of green steel annually, cutting CO₂ emissions by up to 95% compared with conventional steel production.
Repsol’s Cartagena Hydrogen Project (Spain): presented by María José Gimeno Cortés, Head of Sustainability and Regulatory Optimisation for Repsol’s Hydrogen Division, this 100 MW electrolyser project will produce around 15,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year to replace conventional hydrogen (or grey hydrogen) for refinery operations, cutting emissions by an estimated 165,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, the lifecycle carbon intensity of RFNBO hydrogen being at least ten times lower than that of grey hydrogen. It also features an adiabatic cooling system that reduces water consumption by 95%, making it particularly suited to water-scarce regions.
These cases were complemented by contributions from Marton Antal (Hydrogen Europe), Johannes Krämer (BASF), Diego Crespo Mencía (Moeve) and Brais Armiño Franco (digHy), who broadened the discussion to the wider European policy, market and technology landscape for industrial hydrogen.
Beyond the technology: economics and regulation as the next hurdle
Speakers openly acknowledged that the main barriers to scale-up are no longer technological but economic and regulatory. Stable policy implementation, market incentives, hydrogen infrastructure development and effective collaboration within Hydrogen Valley ecosystems were all identified as needed to move from individual flagship projects to a competitive European hydrogen economy. EU regulation, funding mechanisms, grid integration and flexibility services were discussed as key levers to support this transition.
Renewable hydrogen projects are now entering the industrial deployment phase, with refineries and green steel the most promising early markets, participants agreed. Sustained growth will depend on greater regulatory certainty, expanded infrastructure, grid integration solutions and continued collaboration through Hydrogen Valley ecosystems such as CyLH2 Valley.
Keep updated
This fifth Learning Capsule confirmed that industrial deployment is now a central and pressing question for the hydrogen sector, and one the CyLH2 Valley community will keep exploring.
The CyLH2 Valley will continue the Learning Capsules series in the coming months, giving partners further opportunities to exchange knowledge and accelerate the deployment of hydrogen solutions across the region.
Stay updated via our website and follow the project’s social media channels!
Photo credits: ADIGUN AMPA on Unsplash
