The Castilla y León Hydrogen Valley launches its video interview series with a conversation featuring one of the people who helped shape the initiative from the very beginning: Ismael Lozano, former project coordinator and Head of Energy Systems Area, Energy Division at CARTIF. In this first interview, he reflects on what the project is really about and why this region of Spain is so well placed to lead the way.
“This project aims to create a whole ecosystem around hydrogen in the region, including renewable generation, hydrogen production, its transportation and also consumption. It will include different sectors across the whole value chain — from the energy sector, the mobility sector, and also the business sector,”
Behind that vision is a genuinely large-scale effort. Over a five-year period, the project brings together 36 partners around 11 pilot sites and aims to produce around 19,321 tonnes of clean hydrogen per year, with the valley expected to be fully operational by 2028–2029. The goal is to connect renewable generation, hydrogen production, transport and end use into a single, working ecosystem; one that is fully aligned with the European hydrogen strategy, helping to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and linking the region to the main European hydrogen backbone.
Making all of this happen, Lozano is quick to point out, is a team effort:
“Collaboration is the key part of the project. We have several parts that should be developed together — all the parts depend on each other.”
So why Castilla y León? As Lozano describes it, the region offers a rare combination of ingredients: more than 95% of its power generation already comes from renewable sources, there is abundant land available for new hydrogen-ready projects, and regional and local governments are firmly committed to integrating hydrogen into their policies. And there is a human side too. As one of Europe’s largest regions by area, the valley is also an opportunity to attract talent back and create long-term local opportunities.
Has this little preview caught your interest? Click below and watch the full interview!
