Last July, a key event for the energy sector of the region was held at the University of León, organized by the Castilla and León Hydrogen Association (H2CYL) and the University of León. Under the title “Green Hydrogen: A Gateway to the Energy Future of Castilla y León,” experts from the sector gathered to discuss the opportunities green hydrogen offers for decarbonization and regional economic development.
José Ignacio Domínguez, Project Manager at Fundación CIDAUT, participated in the round table “Innovation at the Service of Hydrogen,” alongside Víctor Manuel Arteaga Tejerina from Fundación Ciudad de la Energía (CIUDEN), Rafael Ayuste Cupido, Head of the Renewable Energies Department at the Regional Energy Authority (EREN), José Antonio Blasco Rasero, R&D Director at TRESCA Engineering, and Antonio Morán Palao, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of León, who moderated the panel.
During the event, José Ignacio Domínguez Carrero from Fundación CIDAUT emphasized the importance of collaboration among all players in the value chain to achieve success in the hydrogen economy. He also highlighted how hydrogen represents not only an opportunity for decarbonization but also for innovation in key sectors.
Antonio Morán Palao, from the University of León, discussed the crucial role of research and development in green hydrogen technologies, stressing the importance of the H2MetAmo, project in which they are participating. This project, involving the four public universities of Castilla y León—University of León, University of Burgos, University of Salamanca, and University of Valladolid—and two technology centers, Fundación CARTIF and Fundación CIDAUT, focuses on the development of small-scale hydrogen production technologies and processes, a key step in utilizing renewable energy surpluses in the region.
Furthermore, the project includes the creation of a master's degree program taught by the University of Burgos, with a faculty composed of the researchers and hydrogen experts involved in the project. This program will serve as a training platform for future leaders in the hydrogen sector in Castilla y León.
The event also highlighted the regional government's support for the hydrogen sector, which is considered strategic for the energy future of Castilla y León. With projects such as Hydrogen 2024, financed by the Junta of Castilla y León, initiatives are being promoted to raise awareness, communicate, and foster talent around this key energy vector.
CIDAUT Foundation continues to bet on innovation and inter-institutional collaboration to lead the change towards a more sustainable energy future. Events like this reinforce the Foundation's commitment to the energy transition, positioning Castilla y León as a benchmark in the development of new technologies in green hydrogen.
At the end of the meeting, CIDAUT participated in the H2METAMO follow-up meeting held in the afternoon. In this meeting, a review of the main advances and achievements was made and this information was shared with the person responsible for the Junta de Castilla y León in charge of this project. This initiative is part of the R&D initiative Complementary Plans on Energy and Green Hydrogen included in the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.