PRESENTATION EVENT OF THE INNOVATIVE AGRO-VOLTAIC PROJECT ‘GREEN HYDROGEN VALLEY’ IN NAVAS DE SAN JUAN (JAÉN)

On November 18, 2024, the agrivoltaic project ‘Valle del Hidrógeno Verde’ was presented in Navas de San Juan, an initiative that will strengthen the economy of the El Condado region in Jaén. This project, endowed with a total budget of more than €225,000, mostly from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and local contributions, seeks to innovate in the rural world and improve farmers’ incomes.

The ‘Valle del Hidrógeno Verde’ is an innovative project that integrates solar energy with agriculture in eight municipalities of El Condado, Jaén: Vilches, Arquillos, Chiclana de Segura, Navas de San Juan, Sorihuela del Guadalimar, Montizón, Castellar and Santisteban del Puerto. Its main objective is twofold: to allow farmers to obtain additional income by renting land to energy companies or generating energy for self-consumption, and to serve as an economic boost for the region. This initiative is expected to improve the competitiveness of traditional olive groves and offer a sustainable solution to the challenges of electric transport in the province, becoming a model of sustainable rural development.

The initiative has two main lines of work. The first, led by the University of Jaén, focuses on the use of solar panels strategically placed in traditional olive groves. The second, carried out by Ecointegral/IDP and the University of Seville, seeks a solution to the transport of electric energy by transforming it into green hydrogen and valorising it as an energy vector.

The presentation of the project was attended by prominent authorities, including Manuel Fernández, sub-delegate of the Government, Javier Calvente, delegate of Economy, Finance, European Funds and Industry, Energy and Mines, and representatives of the Provincial Council, city councils, universities and the private sector.

Ecointegral/IDP actively participates in this innovative project, contributing with its experience and knowledge in the field of renewable energies and sustainability.