Two hydrogen projects owned by CI Energy Transition Fund I, managed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners have secured grants from the European Commission in its first European Hydrogen Bank auction. Catalina was awarded €230 million while Madoqua was awarded €245 million. Together, they represent a combined electrolyser capacity of 1,000 MW.
Catalina, a hydrogen project with a 500 MW electrolyser capacity situated in Aragon, northern Spain, aims to generate green hydrogen for curbing carbon emissions in industrial sectors. Meanwhile, Madoqua, located in Sines, Portugal, is a Power-to-X facility slated to produce green hydrogen and ammonia primarily for shipping needs, featuring an initial electrolyser capacity of 500 MW.
The projects will receive the awarded funding from the onset commercial operations until the end of the 10-year grant period. These funds play a crucial role in bridging the financial gap between production costs and sales prices, thereby facilitating the projects’ viability. However, the grants hinge upon the projects becoming operational within five years of signing the grant agreement. CIP anticipates both projects to be up and running no later than 2029.