Europe Makes Strides Toward a Hydrogen-Powered Future
Brussels recently played host to Hydrogen Week, a major event highlighting Europe’s commitment to a clean, hydrogen-powered future. From November 18th to 21st, policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers gathered to celebrate progress and chart a path forward for this exciting technology.
The week-long event showcased cutting-edge innovations and collaborative efforts under the banner of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. This initiative fosters a dynamic ecosystem, connecting stakeholders from the public and private sectors to tackle key challenges in scaling up hydrogen technologies.
Beyond showcasing advancements, Hydrogen Week emphasized the crucial role of collaboration. Keynote speaker and new Chair of the Governing Board, Danica Maljković, underscored this point: "we must focus investments where they matter most. We must promote cutting-edge innovations and envision Europe as a clean, self-sustained energy hub, a continent of affordable H2 energy.”
These sentiments resonated throughout the week, as participants explored every aspect of the hydrogen value chain, from production and distribution to its sustainable integration into various sectors. A highlight of the event was the Clean Hydrogen Awards Ceremony, recognizing groundbreaking achievements across the continent. Winners, like FCH2Rail, exemplified the transformative potential of hydrogen, offering scalable solutions to retrofit existing diesel trains with hydrogen technology.
Other awardees, such as the TRIĒRĒS Valley project in Greece and Emsland in Germany, demonstrated how hydrogen valleys can drive regional revitalization and sustainable energy transitions. EVERYWH2ERE showcased the versatility of hydrogen with its portable, hydrogen-powered generators, proving that hydrogen isn’t just an alternative, but a central pillar of a sustainable future.
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership is actively involved in strengthening ties with EU members to ensure the effective deployment of hydrogen solutions across the continent. During Hydrogen Week, six memorandums of cooperation were signed with various regions, including Castilla y León (Spain), North-Holland (Netherlands), Košice Region (Slovakia), Wielkopolska (Poland), the Médio Tejo Intermunicipal Community (Portugal), and the National Managing Authority from Slovenia.
This collaborative model is crucial for navigating the complexities of the energy transition. The Clean Hydrogen Partnership is actively supporting the EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act by boosting the development and competitiveness of the European hydrogen industry. They are also playing a key role in implementing the REPowerEU plan, aiming to double the number of Hydrogen Valleys in the EU by 2025.
"Our efforts will constantly support the REPowerEU plan which aims to double the number of Hydrogen Valleys in the EU by 2025. Clean Hydrogen JU has supported up to date 16 Hydrogen valleys projects across 15 European countries, with a total funding of close to €200 million,” stated a spokesperson.
While the accomplishments celebrated during Hydrogen Week offer reasons to be optimistic, there’s a shared understanding that even greater effort and investment are needed to meet Europe’s ambitious climate and energy goals.
