GAC Spain settles in Huelva to back shipping sector, hydrogen in spotlight

August 15, 2024, by Aida Čučuk

GAC Spain, a provider of shipping and logistics services in the Iberian Peninsula, has opened a new office at the Port of Huelva to support the country’s shipping and energy industry, including hydrogen.

According to GAC, the opening of the office strategically positions the company to serve its existing dry and liquid bulk customers, as well as gas carriers at Huelva, with a suite of specialized services, which include ship agency, husbandry, bunker fuels, customs clearance, crew change support and freight services, especially ship spares logistics.

The expansion follows the opening of an office at the Port of Algeciras, Spain’s largest port, in November 2023, to cater to vessels passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and support Spain’s growing green energy sector.

Sergio Delatorre, Managing Director of GAC Spain, commented: “As development of infrastructure for both green hydrogen and renewable energy continues to gain momentum in the south of Spain, our presence in both Huelva and Algeciras become increasingly vital for supporting our customers.”

“We are committed to supporting our ship owner and ship management customers wherever they go. Now, with enhanced capabilities, we are better placed than ever to serve them in true GAC style, leveraging our global reach and local knowledge to support their strategic goals.”

To note, the port is a part of the Andalusia Green Hydrogen Valley. This €3 billion project, spearheaded by Spanish energy giant CEPSA, aims to accelerate the shift towards sustainable energy with the construction of two green hydrogen production facilities in Palos de la Frontera in Huelva and San Roque in Campo de Gibraltar, Cadiz.

These facilities will have a combined electrolysis capacity of 2 GW, capable of producing up to 300,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually. Their construction is expected to enhance the production of 2 GW of biofuels and derivative products such as green ammonium and methanol.

Commenting on the significance of Huelva, GAC also emphasized the port’s Sustainable Cold Logistics Hub, which is designed to enhance energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of logistics operations. The company said the hub utilizes residual cold from the LNG port terminal to power refrigerated storage facilities within the port, adding that this system optimizes energy usage and lowers operational costs.

As per GAC, from January to March 2024, the Port of Huelva saw a handling of over 7.8 million tonnes of goods, a 7.71% increase from the previous year. Furthermore, the total movement of bulk liquids surged by 9.16% to over 6 million tonnes during the same period.