Green hydrogen plant authorized in Granja de Moreruela

The Junta de Castilla y León has granted environmental authorization to UTU Solar, S.L. for the green hydrogen production plant planned in the municipality of Granja de Moreruela (Zamora). The decision is detailed in the Resolution of August 26, 2026, from the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Environment, and Environmental Policy, published in the Official Gazette of Castilla y León (Boletín Oficial de Castilla y León) number 170, dated September 2, 2026, with reference BOCYL-D-02092026-170-8 and file 509-21-AAZA.

The facility, named Moreruela I, will produce hydrogen through water electrolysis powered by a 50 MW self-consumption solar photovoltaic plant located at the same site. The application was submitted on September 14, 2021, and the project has a favorable environmental impact statement, issued by Order MAV/304/2026, dated March 27, published in BOCYL number 64, dated April 6, 2026.

A high-investment energy project

The plant will feature four proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers of 10 MW each, with a design power of 40 MW electrical and a production capacity of up to 720 kg/h of high-purity hydrogen, exceeding 99.999%. The hydrogen will be stored in up to 60 cylindrical tanks with a total capacity of 12,000,000 liters and a maximum of 39.6 tons.

Four 10 MW PEM electrolyzers (40 MW electrical design power).
Production of up to 720 kg/h of hydrogen with purity exceeding 99.999%.
50 MW self-consumption photovoltaic plant at the same site.
Storage in up to 60 tanks (12,000,000 liters, 39.6 tons).
Groundwater concession of up to 117,000.7 m³ per year.

Processing and allegations

The file was submitted for public consultation via an announcement in BOCYL number 174, dated September 6, 2024, and reports were gathered from the Civil Protection Agency, the Duero Hydrographic Confederation, and the territorial services of Zamora, among other bodies. During the hearing process, Ecologistas en Acción de Zamora submitted a written statement of allegations which, having been registered before the formal start of the period, was considered untimely due to being premature; nevertheless, their considerations were analyzed and addressed in Annex I of the resolution.

Deadlines and appeals

The holder will have a period of five years from the date of publication to start the activity, subject to the submission of a responsible declaration. Against the resolution, which concludes the administrative route, an optional appeal for reversal may be filed within one month, or a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed before the High Court of Justice of Castilla y León within two months.

The authorization consolidates Castilla y León as a hub for renewable hydrogen production, with a facility intended to supply industrial consumers, heavy transport, and hydrogen refueling stations. The resolution was signed by the general secretary Mercedes Buendía Buendía.

Source: Official Gazette of Castilla y León, no. 170, September 2, 2026, section I.D (Other Provisions), page 30 (official reference: BOCYL-D-02092026-170-8).