Valencia, 1 April 2025
Swiss investment company Smartenergy has confirmed that its Orange.bat project, which will support the decarbonization of Spain’s ceramic cluster in the province of Castellón, has obtained a favorable Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decision — the final step before securing the Integrated Environmental Permit (IEP). Orange.bat is the first green hydrogen plant to receive this approval in the Valencian Community.
In addition, the Orange.bat project, part of Smartenergy’s Orange H2 Valley initiative, has been acknowledged by the Government of the Valencian Community as a Priority Investment Project (Proyecto Prioritario de Inversión). This recognition grants administrative and procedural advantages, facilitating its execution by ensuring a faster process with fewer bureaucratic uncertainties.
The EIA approval, reinforced by the Priority Investment Project status, confirms the maturity of the Orange.bat project, which now enters its final development phase. Commissioning is scheduled for May 2028, highlighting Smartenergy’s commitment to the Valencian Community and the use of green hydrogen to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries.
The 100 MWe electrolyser will be built in Onda (Castellón), a strategic location close to end-users. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 16,446 tons of green hydrogen for distribution to local industry, preventing the emission of 108,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year. The project is expected to create 34 direct and 150 indirect jobs, with further employment generated through related economic activity and the construction phase.
Smartenergy has also confirmed that the project includes plans for a second 80 MWe plant in the municipality of Alcora.
Green Hydrogen for hard-to-abate industries
The Environmental Impact Assessment approval marks a key milestone, confirming the feasibility of Smartenergy’s 350 MW project pipeline in Spain, aimed at industrial decarbonisation.
Smartenergy is also a European pioneer in eSAF (electro Sustainable Aviation Fuel) production projects using renewable hydrogen. The company has a project portfolio in Portugal under active development with an annual production capacity of 230,000 tons of eSAF.