Spain is building its hydrogen refuelling network at pace

Spain is sometimes portrayed as a laggard on hydrogen. The facts point to a different picture: with European and national support, there is now a concrete plan to roll out a nationwide network of hydrogen refuelling stations over the coming years.

Who is building the network?

The driving force is HVR Energy (Hidrógeno Verde Renovable), a Spanish company focused on developing and operating hydrogen refuelling stations for clean mobility. HVR uses a modular, scalable model: ready-to-operate stations installed at existing service stations and offered through a leasing arrangement, so operators do not have to invest themselves. In 2023 the company opened its first green hydrogen plant in Coslada, near Madrid.

The figures in context

HVR Energy states a company target of at least 55 operational stations by 2028 and 75 stations by 2030, positioning it among Europe's most ambitious hydrogen plans. To date, the company says it has raised more than €33 million in public and private funding.

An important nuance: these figures of 55 and 75 are HVR's own targets, not an official per-country AFIR number. The EU's AFIR regulation does not set a fixed number of stations per member state, but works with distance rules. From the end of 2030, a hydrogen station must be located every 200 kilometres along the TEN-T core network, plus at least one in every urban node.

Where does the money come from?

The funding is a mix of European grants and national loans. Through the EU's CEF-AFIF programme, HVR was awarded a €7.6 million grant. In addition, Spain's Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) provided €12.75 million in financing for the rollout of 30 stations — this is largely a loan, not a grant. An earlier round supported 20 stations.

In the most recent CEF-AFIF call, HVR secured backing for 30 of the 38 hydrogen stations awarded across Europe — a notably large share for a single company.

The real challenge

According to HVR, the debate should no longer be about whether Spain is starting late, but about execution: actually getting the network built and operational, and ensuring hydrogen vehicles take to the road. Infrastructure, vehicles and industry need to move at the same pace.

That is precisely where the opportunity lies. A comprehensive refuelling network removes one of the biggest barriers for fleet operators looking to switch. Alongside battery-electric driving, this creates a second, fully fledged route toward zero-emission mobility — especially for heavier transport and intensive use, where fast refuelling and long range matter.

Sources

• MobilityPlaza — HVR Energy secures funding to deploy hydrogen stations in Spain (April 2026)
• Fuel Cells Works — HVR Energy Secures €12.75M for 30 Hydrogen Stations in Spain
• Global Hydrogen Review / reNews — HVR Energy ICO funding
• European Commission (Alternative Fuels Observatory) — AFIR deployment targets
• Hydrogen Central — ICO funds €7M for 20 RGH stations on TEN-T network