Hydrogen, an energy vector for the future

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A panel of experts from companies linked to energy, transport, the financial sector, and consultancy analysed the challenges of hydrogen as an energy vector of the future, as well as those of production, transport and storage in the forum "New Hydrogen Business Models: Analysis from different Segments of the Supply Chain”, organised by the Comillas Chair for Low Carbon Hydrogen Studies. All of them - Carburos Metálicos, Enagás, Red Eléctrica, BBVA, Acerinox, CEPSA,, Toyota and Management Solutions - agreed on the enormous opportunity that hydrogen represents for Spain.

In the opinion of Rafael Cossent, Co-Director of the Chair and researcher at the Technological Research Institute at Comillas ICAI (IIT), “the role of hydrogen as a new energy vector in the process of decarbonisation of the economy will be very important to achieve carbon neutrality”. Isabel Figuerola-Ferretti, Co-Director of the Chair and professor and researcher in Business Management at the School of Economics and Business Administration (Comillas ICADE) corroborates this. “The aim of the Chair is to contribute through its activities to the creation of an energy system in which renewable hydrogen plays a leading role. Hopefully the incorporation of hydrogen will reduce the volatility of energy markets”.

Two round tables analysed new business models and the technical, economic, political, regulatory and social barriers which must be overcome for its development. All participants agreed on the important role of hydrogen for the future and the importance of its transport chains and storage to decarbonise energy and contribute to a fair energy transition. In fact, it became clear that safe and reliable technological solutions are already available.

In the words of Mariano Ventosa, Vice-Rector for Research and Academic Staff at Comillas, “the support of our sponsoring members is essential as it allows us to carry out research in close contact with the reality of the sector”, and added that this Chair should be the starting point for an ongoing debate on hydrogen.