Navarra is a pioneer and leader at the European level in terms of the production of renewable energies, with a historic technological and industrial commitment to developing it and as the cradle.
Navarra is a pioneer and leader at European level in terms of the production of renewable energies, with a historic technological and industrial commitment to its development and the implementation of new global standards for wind energy.
It is the third most important sector in Navarra after the automotive industry and the agrifood sector, with an important industrial network of more than 110 companies, 10% of the industrial employees and a turnover of €4.5 billion, representing 5% of regional GDP. In turn, it is the region’s second largest export sector, mainly based on the production of wind turbines and their components.
The close-knit industrial fabric covers all links in the value chain, which includes one large renewable energy operator, Acciona Energía, and two large OEMs, Siemens Gamesa and Nordex-Acciona Windpower.An important group of SMEs also provide great added value for certain electronic components, such as blades, controls, bearings and gearboxes.
Navarra has been a pioneer in renewable energies due to:
Navarra is also the “cradle of innovation” due to the many companies from the energy sector that have made the leap to international expansion after having consolidated their presence in Navarra.
Navarra has the most relevant infrastructures and skills for the development of R&D for the sector:
Renewable Energy Technology Centre. This is a technology centre that specialises in R&D and the promotion of renewable energies. It has cutting-edge technological infrastructures, such as the Wind Turbine Test Laboratory, which is the only one of its kind in the world.
Leading National Centre for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency. It was the first initiative of its kind in Europe for vocational training for this sector.
Navarra promotes green hydrogen as an energy vector that contributes to the decarbonization of its economy in combination with other technologies and energies. With the aim of developing this sector, our region participates in several relevant and promising initiatives on Green H2.
Navarra has developed the Navarra Green Hydrogen Agenda, whose time horizon covers until 2030, and where it is committed to reaching 150MW of installed electrolysis capacity, the promotion of complementary biogas installations and carbon capture technologies, and the deployment of systems production and consumption systems, mainly in segments that are difficult to electrify.
Public-private, inter-territorial and multi-sector cooperation project, which will promote actions in all areas of the green hydrogen value chain (production, transportation, uses and storage), thus developing the hydrogen economy and leading the Hydrogen value chain Green in southern Europe.
Its ultimate goal is the decarbonization of the economy and transportation, as well as the development of local technological and industrial capabilities.
Its main objective is to contribute to the development of the Pyrenean region through a cross-border cooperation structure.
And among other projects, the CTP seeks to develop the Hydrogen economy through the creation of cross-border infrastructures, training activities, R&D and industrial collaboration and hydrogen-based mobility.
The main renewable firms are preparing large investments in R&D in Navarra.
Nordex has chosen Navarra for the production and design of hydrogen electrolysers.
Iberdrola and FCC will host the first wind turbine blade recycling plant in Spain and Europe, with an investment of €10 M and the creation of one hundred jobs in a decade.
Acciona Energía will develop a green hydrogen production centre and a microgrid that combines solar, photovoltaic and wind energy to electrify industries that are “thermo-intensive”.
Iberdrola Renovables Energía has acquired a 6 MW wind turbine for the region, in collaboration with Siemens Gamesa.
CENER is working on a more effective high-temperature hydrogen production system, and on a next generation biofuel line.
MTorres is focusing on its own storage battery model.
Siemens Gamesa highlights the investment “of more than €400 million”, thanks to the Navarra R&D centre. Wind turbines with a new configuration and the design of wind farms ” for hybrid generation environments”.
Grupo Enhol, is part of the 3R Circular Economy consortium, focused on repowering, which aims to promote “the refurbishment of components, the recovery of materials and land, as well as the recycling of ‘composites’ (plastics) used in the production of wind turbines”.
The Chinese multinational Hithium Energy Storage Technology, specialised in batteries and energy storage systems, plans to start its industrial operations in Navarra in 2027 as
Ingeteam has completed construction of its new R&D building in Sarriguren, a key strategic project aimed at strengthening its research and technological development capabilities in
Grupo Enhol is set to invest around €16 million in a new green hydrogen plant to be developed at the Tudela Agri-Food City (CAT), further
Navarra, a strategic enclave for the automotive industry. This sector represents around 25% of industrial GDP in Navarra, which represents 6% of GDP of the Autonomous Community of Navarra.
Navarra is one of the leading ecosystems in agrifood in Spain. It is located in the Ebro Valley, and promotes and facilitates innovative processes being developed by the sector, thus improving its activity.
Navarra is at the forefront of personalised medicine in Europe, with a competitive health sector capable of launching innovative and accessible solutions to health challenges on the market.
Through Big Data and artificial intelligence, Navarra is committed to becoming a benchmark in digital transformation and innovation both in the public and private sectors, as well as at academic level.
