Green Hydrogen: Energy That Could Transform the Future of the Balearic Islands

As the energy transition progresses, and sustainability is no longer optional but an urgent necessity, green hydrogen has emerged as one of the most commonly cited concepts in reports, headlines and political strategy. An energy solution that promises to store solar and wind power to be used when there’s no breeze or the sun has set. A sort of ‘universal battery’ that could decarbonise sectors not yet reached by electrification: heavy industry, shipping, aviation, machinery, logistics… and perhaps, one day, our homes too.

But what exactly lies behind this incredibly light gas? What can it offer to vulnerable, isolated regions such as the Balearic Islands? And why does it inspire such enthusiasm… yet such doubt at the same time?

Green hydrogen is made by splitting water molecules through electrolysis using renewable electricity. The process is simple in theory: an electric current is passed through water, releasing oxygen on one side and hydrogen on the other. The important thing is where that electricity comes from. If it comes from solar, wind or marine sources, the resulting hydrogen is clean. If it comes from natural gas or coal, it isn't. That is why people talk about a ‘colour palette’ for hydrogen: grey, blue, turquoise, pink, yellow… but the only one truly compatible with climate neutrality is green.

Although its use is still in its early days—less than 1% of the world’s hydrogen is produced from renewable sources—its potential is huge. It can power ships, lorries and trains without emitting CO₂, supply energy to industries such as steel and cement production, produce synthetic aviation fuels, drive the development of cleaner logistics networks, and solve one of the major challenges of renewable energy: large-scale storage. Where solar and wind power are intermittent, hydrogen allows surplus energy to be stored as a gas. The advantage here is that it can be stored for days, months or even entire seasons.

An ambitious roadmap has already been drawn up in Europe. The EU wants hydrogen to be a key part of the energy system by 2030 and to account for around 15% of its energy mix by 2050. Spain and Portugal, with their abundance of sunshine and wind, even hope to become exporters. The Iberian Peninsula has already opened small pilot plants and logistics corridors such as H2Med, which will link Barcelona with Marseille to transport renewable hydrogen to central Europe.

Nevertheless, the story is more nuanced than that. The most vocal critics warn that there’s a sort of ‘hydrogen fever’ being driven by major energy companies, which see this new energy source as an opportunity to keep converted fossil-fuel infrastructure in use. Critics argue that many current projects lack sufficient justification, claiming that hydrogen is too expensive, that its actual efficiency is low, and that there’s a risk of speculation similar to that seen in major tech bubbles of the past. There are also those wary of it becoming an excuse for delaying crucial measures such as reducing energy consumption or embracing local models.

Does it make sense, then, to talk about hydrogen in island regions such as the Balearic Islands? Yes, and perhaps even more so than elsewhere. Islands face clear constraints: limited space, high dependence on external supplies, vulnerable energy infrastructure and major seasonal pressure linked to tourism. These characteristics mean that every kWh of renewable energy counts, and that energy self-sufficiency is a strategic necessity. In this context, green hydrogen serves to complement—not substitute—electrification, particularly in key sectors such as ports, commercial shipping, tourism logistics and waste management.

In the port sector, for example, green hydrogen is emerging as a solution for marine engines, heavy machinery and cold ironing systems, which allow ships to switch off their engines while docked. Pilot projects are already underway in Europe, specifically in Rotterdam, Hamburg and Trondheim, combining electrolysers, refuelling stations and experimental vessels. Mallorca, with busy ports such as Palma and Alcúdia, could benefit from this technology as it matures.

It could also transform mobility. While some manufacturers are focusing on traditional electric cars, others are working on fleets of hydrogen-powered lorries, buses and commercial vehicles. Germany, France and Japan are leading the way in this race, and Spain has already started introducing the first fuel-cell vehicles into its logistics and urban transport networks. In island regions, where distances between charging points are relatively short yet business travel is frequent, this can open up unique opportunities.

But perhaps the most useful role for green hydrogen in the Balearic Islands is the least obvious: serving as a component of the energy storage system. An electricity grid that’s increasingly reliant on renewables needs to smooth out peaks and troughs in generation. Hydrogen provides a flexible way of storing excess energy from the midday sun or during periods of strong wind, and using it at times of high demand. This advantage is especially useful in summer, when consumption soars due to tourism and renewables don’t always cover peak demand.

Of course, the challenges cannot be ignored in this debate. Producing green hydrogen requires a great deal of renewable electricity and lots of space to install the required infrastructure, but the Balearic Islands have limited supplies of both. Added to this are the high cost of electrolysers, safety issues, the need for new infrastructure and the difficulty of adapting existing networks. Environmental organisations insist that green hydrogen must not ‘siphon off’ available renewable capacity or replace direct electrification, which is always more efficient.

The conclusion, from a realistic, positive yet critical perspective, is that green hydrogen is not a magic wand… but is no doubt a valuable piece of the puzzle. It can help reduce emissions in areas with limited alternatives, strengthen the archipelago’s energy resilience, open up opportunities for innovation and boost the sustainability of sectors such as tourism, which are highly sensitive to environmental impact. This will be the case provided it is used wisely, in places where it genuinely has a positive impact, and without being tempted to treat it as a substitute for more far-reaching structural changes.

Given their size, vulnerability and dependence on energy imports, islands can serve as ideal testing grounds for discovering what works, what doesn’t, and where green hydrogen truly fits in. It’s an experiment which, if done properly, could put the islands at the forefront of the Mediterranean energy transition.