The province of Huelva has become the Spanish epicentre of renewable hydrogen, with projects totalling over €13 billion. However, the lack of infrastructure such as the AVE or an airport threatens to hinder its industrial take-off.
Huelva is experiencing a sweet moment in attracting industrial investments, especially linked to green hydrogen. Companies like Go Energy Group, Moeve, Hygreen Energy, and others have announced projects amounting to over €13 billion in recent months. However, growth clashes with a reality: the province lacks the necessary transport and accommodation infrastructure to sustain this boom.
The latest major announcement has been made by Go Energy Group, which plans to invest €10 billion in an industrial platform that will integrate artificial intelligence, photovoltaics, green hydrogen, and batteries. This macro-installation will be located in the municipalities of San Juan del Puerto and Gibraleón, within the metropolitan area of Huelva. The multinational plans to create self-sufficient AI campuses, which would mark a milestone in the Andalusian energy transition.
Meanwhile, Moeve has greenlit an investment of €1 billion for its green hydrogen megaproject in Palos de la Frontera. The company, formerly known as Cepsa, is one of the leading firms in the decarbonisation of the Huelva industry. Additionally, the Chinese company Hygreen Energy has announced an investment of €2 billion for a green hydrogen production plant, also in the province.
These projects position Huelva as the Spanish province with the highest concentration of renewable hydrogen initiatives, ahead of other regions. The capital of Huelva also hosts the National Green Hydrogen Congress, which in its third edition brought together 1,400 participants and over 450 companies. A forum that consolidates Huelva as a reference in this sector.
But success comes at a price. During the celebration of that congress in February, hotels in the capital ran out of rooms. Many attendees had to sleep in Seville or nearby municipalities, according to sources from the event. This episode highlighted the lack of hotel capacity to host large professional events.
The profile of visitors has changed. They are no longer just beach tourists but executives, engineers, and technicians from energy companies who need quality accommodation and meeting spaces. The city lacks a convention centre of sufficient size and hotels capable of accommodating thousands of attendees.
Another major deficit is transportation. Huelva still lacks a direct AVE connection to Madrid and other capitals, despite repeated political promises. The current train service is slow and infrequent, making it difficult for investors and professionals to arrive. The airport in Huelva, a long-standing demand, has yet to materialise. Projects like the Morón base or the expansion of Seville airport do not address the need for a dedicated infrastructure.
Consulted business sources indicate that the lack of these infrastructures is beginning to be a limiting factor. Some companies have raised the need for the administration to expedite timelines to avoid missing the investment train. The economic discourse has changed: it is no longer about whether Huelva attracts investments, but whether it is prepared to manage them.
The province needs to grow on three fronts: expand hotel offerings, build a convention centre, and unlock transport infrastructures. The Huelva City Council and the Provincial Council are working on plans to promote new hotels, but the timelines are long and demand is immediate.
In the meantime, the hydrogen industry continues to advance. Go Energy Group, Moeve, and Hygreen Energy have already initiated the procedures for their plants, which will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The question is whether Huelva will be able to accommodate all this growth without collapsing. The coming months will be crucial to see if the administrations respond adequately to the circumstances.
For the average citizen, the arrival of these investments represents an opportunity for employment and development, but also challenges in mobility and housing. The pressure on the real estate market is already noticeable in the capital and in municipalities like San Juan del Puerto or Gibraleón, where rental prices have risen.
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