Renewable hydrogen: the KATA project to decarbonise industry
What is renewable hydrogen, and why is it key to decarbonisation?
A Basque consortium, led by Iberdrola España, has launched the KATA project, an ambitious R&D initiative that will develop new technologies across the entire value chain of renewable hydrogen carriers, from generation to end use, with the aim of accelerating the energy transition in maritime transport and the steel industry.
In line with the objectives of the European Green Deal, which positions renewable gases as a cornerstone of climate neutrality, KATA addresses one of the greatest challenges of the energy transition: how to efficiently produce, transport and use the energy carriers that will replace fossil fuels in the sectors that are hardest to electrify.
The project explores innovative technological solutions throughout the entire value chain of hydrogen carriers. These include the development of new green hydrogen production processes using pulsed electrolysis, capable of increasing both efficiency and gas purity; the dynamic synthesis of green ammonia at low temperature and pressure using induction-electrified reactors; and the production of renewable methanol from captured CO₂ through electrochemical conversion, using selective catalysts and ion exchange membranes to maximise process performance.
Onboard renewable hydrogen technologies for maritime transport
In the field of maritime transport, KATA will develop and simulate new propulsion systems for vessels powered by hydrogen, ammonia and methanol, including onboard ammonia cracking and methanol reforming technologies for hydrogen generation at sea. It will also create a proprietary tool to define the technical and design requirements of future merchant vessels, aligned with the sector’s decarbonisation targets.
Innovative renewable hydrogen solutions for the steel industry
For the steel sector, the project will identify the technical requirements needed to replace natural gas with green hydrogen and ammonia as reducing agents in DRI (Direct Reduced Iron) industrial processes. At the same time, new adsorbent materials for CO₂ capture in oxy-combustion processes will be investigated, aiming for high capture capacity, stability in humid conditions and energy-efficient regeneration.
New materials and cross-cutting tools for renewable hydrogen
KATA will also address challenges related to material compatibility with hydrogen carriers through the development of new coatings and surface treatments, as well as improvements in ammonia sensors, analysing their degradation to develop advanced control and predictive maintenance algorithms.
As a cross-cutting element, the project will develop a proprietary economic and environmental assessment tool to quantify the impact of the technologies developed and facilitate the certification of Guarantees of Origin for renewable gases, strengthening traceability and market value.
The consortium, coordinated by Iberdrola España, includes Cintranaval, Fidegas, Global Factor, H2Site, Sarmel, SKV, Tamoin, TTT and Tubacex, with the participation of the University of the Basque Country (EHU), Tecnalia and Tubacex Innovación as agents of the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network (RVCTI).
The KATA project, funded by the Basque Government’s Hazitek programme, will run for three years (2025-2027) and positions the Basque Country at the forefront of European development of hydrogen carriers as pillars of the new decarbonised economy.
