The ITHER project, “Technology Infrastructure for Hydrogen and Renewable Energies”, promoted by the Foundation for the Development of New Hydrogen Technologies in Aragon, comprises a whole test and demonstration facility for photovoltaics, wind energy and hydrogen. This 3 M€ project developed during the last two years, has been completed in early 2008. Since December 2006 hydrogen from the sun is being produced.

The facilities display a complete picture of current PV and wind technology, consisting of a 635 kW wind farm with three different turbines, a 100 kW grid connected photovoltaic installation (three panel technologies, four different sun-tracking systems), and an isolated 2.7 kW photovoltaic application (1 kW concentrated PV, 1.7 photovoltaic roof with two advanced panel materials). The facility includes hydrogen production by a PEM electrolyser, storage and fuel cells. Up to date, it is the only renewables-to-hydrogen project in the world that includes so many different technologies.

The ITHER project serves as showcase for renewable electricity and hydrogen production, for training and researching purposes at the Foundation, as well as for raising awareness on the future energy challenges.

Recently, the Foundation for Hydrogen in Aragon and Swiss-based company Industrie Haute Technology signed an agreement to jointly develop wind-to-hydrogen solutions. IHT will install a high pressure alkaline electrolyzer at the premises of the Foundation.

The paper will depict in detail the project, shedding light on technical and managerial issues, as well as describing the progress made in R&D up to date