«TECNALIA reaffirms its commitment to the energy transition, providing knowledge and advanced capabilities in green hydrogen»
The KATA project advances the development of innovative solutions for the generation, transport and use of renewable hydrogen
These solutions have a particular focus on carriers such as ammonia and methanol, considered key to decarbonizing sectors difficult to electrify such as maritime transport and steelmaking.
KATA brings together a Basque industrial consortium from the renewable hydrogen value chain. TECNALIA participates as a scientific-technological agent alongside companies such as Cintranaval, Fidegas, Global Factor, H2SITE, Sarmelt, SKV, Tamoin, TTT and Tubacex. This initiative is coordinated by Iberdrola and funded by the Hazitek program of the Basque Government.
TECNALIA’s contribution
TECNALIA will contribute to the project in strategic areas such as:
- Advanced design of solutions for maritime transport, including the simulation of new propulsion systems based on hydrogen, ammonia and methanol, and their transformation on board using a membrane reactor.
- Support for the development of green hydrogen production processes, such as more efficient pulsed electrolysis, and ammonia synthesis using electrified reactors.
- Research into technologies for CO₂ capture and conversion, including the production of renewable methanol through advanced electrochemical processes.
- Characterization and validation of materials subjected to extreme conditions in the presence of hydrogen, ammonia or methanol, as well as the development of new testing methodologies for the industry.
- Environmental and economic assessment of the technologies developed, facilitating their future implementation and alignment with European regulatory requirements.
A strategic project for the energy transition
KATA positions the Basque Country at the forefront of European development of technologies associated with renewable hydrogen carriers, driving the decarbonization of key industrial sectors and strengthening the region’s technological fabric.
Bilbao, Spain – February 23, 2026 – A Basque consortium led by Iberdrola has launched the KATA project, a research and development initiative focused on advancing technologies across the entire value chain of renewable hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol. The project aims to accelerate the energy transition in the maritime transport and steel industries, sectors facing significant decarbonization challenges.
The KATA project, funded by the Basque Government’s Hazitek program and slated to run through 2027, brings together a diverse group of industrial partners including Cintranaval, Fidegas, Global Factor, H2SITE, Sarmelt, SKV, Tamoin, TTT, and Tubacex. EHU, Tecnalia, and Tubacex Innovación are participating as scientific and technological agents from the Basque Network of Science, Technology and Innovation (RVCTI). This collaborative effort underscores a growing regional commitment to hydrogen technologies.
TECNALIA is playing a key role in the project, contributing expertise in several strategic areas. These include the design of advanced maritime transport solutions, simulating new propulsion systems utilizing hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, and developing on-board transformation technologies. The organization will similarly support the development of more efficient green hydrogen production processes, such as pulsed electrolysis, and research into ammonia synthesis using electrified reactors.
Further, TECNALIA will focus on carbon capture and conversion technologies, exploring the production of renewable methanol from captured CO₂ through advanced electrochemical processes. The project also includes material characterization and validation under extreme conditions, alongside the development of new testing methodologies for industry applications. A comprehensive environmental and economic assessment of the developed technologies will be conducted to ensure future viability and regulatory compliance.
“KATA positions the Basque Country at the forefront of European development of technologies associated with renewable hydrogen carriers,” according to project materials. The initiative is expected to bolster the region’s technological capabilities and drive decarbonization efforts in critical industrial sectors, aligning with the goals of the European Green Deal.
