Madrid launches Europe's first hydrogen bus station

Madrid becomes the first European capital to launch a hydrogen station for buses powered by green hydrogen , a crucial step in the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable public transport. The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, inaugurated this innovative charging station at the EMT Madrid Operations Centre, in Entrevías, accompanied by other representatives of the City Council and the municipal company.

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The mayor of Madrid inaugurated the innovative station. Source: Madrid City Council

Europe’s first hydrogen bus station

The hydrogen station, which allows buses to be recharged in just nine minutes , is part of Madrid City Council’s ambitious plan to decarbonise the city’s public transport . The mayor highlighted the importance of this unique infrastructure in Europe, stressing that by 2030 all buses in the EMT fleet will be zero emissions . This project is part of the Madrid 360 strategy , which aims to make the capital a benchmark in sustainability and energy efficiency.

The new facility is responsible for recharging the buses and handles the entire hydrogen cycle: production, compression, storage and distribution. The plant produces green hydrogen from a water electrolysis process, using solar energy from 2,780 photovoltaic panels installed at the centre.

This system generates a maximum power of 1.6 MWh , contributing to cleaner and more efficient mobility.

The total investment in the project amounts to 11.3 million euros , of which 2.65 million come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). In addition, the project has been developed with national technology, which reinforces the commitment to local innovation and the green economy.

Ten hydrogen buses for a clean fleet

In this first phase, ten hydrogen buses are joining the EMT Madrid fleet. These buses, manufactured by CaetanoBus of Portugal, have a range of 280 kilometres , allowing them to operate for 20 hours without needing to be recharged . Each unit has a hydrogen storage system that gives it the ability to operate with a range suitable for the city’s urban routes.

This project is just one of the first steps towards a public transport model based on clean and sustainable energy . In collaboration with the National Hydrogen Centre (CNH2), EMT Madrid is carrying out technological research and tests to promote the use of hydrogen in urban transport, in order to reduce both CO₂ emissions and the environmental and health costs derived from transport activity.

Watch this video to see the construction of this facility.