The initiative, promoted by Trinity Energy Storage, has made significant progress by being integrated into the ten-year planning of the European hydrogen network. This advancement is crucial for the project to be considered a Project of Common Interest (PCI), a recognition the company expects to achieve during 2027.

Becoming a PCI will grant the Aljarafe Project preferential access to European funding calls, community financing, streamlined administrative procedures, and more favorable regulatory conditions. According to Cristina Yuste, Head of Hydrogen Storage Project Development at the company, the project is classified as 'advance', indicating it meets all requirements, including defined capacity, planned start date, and grid connection point, which was facilitated by Enagás last October.

The Aljarafe Project intends to utilize nearly depleted gas fields in the subsoil of Aljarafe, specifically within the municipalities of Benacazón, Bollullos de la Mitación, and Aznalcázar. The three selected fields—Las Cercas, San Juan, and Palancares—have a combined capacity of 150 million cubic meters and can store up to 14,000 tons of hydrogen, thereby contributing to the stability of energy supply from renewable sources.

The storage facility is scheduled to become operational by 2030. This project is part of the European initiative Euh2stars, co-funded by the European Union with 20 million euros and led by the Austrian company Rag. Trinity is currently in the well engineering, simulation, and monitoring phase, with plans to commence construction in 2028, leveraging existing infrastructure while considering the addition of two new wells.

Concurrently, the company has begun the process of sealing 11 gas fields in the provinces of Huelva and Sevilla due to depletion, following the approval of the environmental impact plan. Furthermore, an operation to recover the Marismas field, near the Doñana Natural Park, to maintain storage operations is pending approval.