EU Hydrogen Valleys Days: Advancing the Hydrogen Economy in Europe
The EU Hydrogen Valleys Days, set to take place on June 17-18, 2024, at The Hotel in Brussels, represents a pivotal gathering for stakeholders in the hydrogen sector. Organized by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, this event underscores Europe's commitment to advancing hydrogen technologies and building robust hydrogen economies across its regions.
The concept of Hydrogen Valleys is rooted in the collaboration and innovation fostered by various European initiatives over the past decade. Initially propelled by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertakings (FCH JU), these efforts have seen the maturation of hydrogen technologies from research phases to large-scale demonstrations. Notably, the FCH JU's support in hydrogen production through water electrolysis using renewable energy has catalyzed significant advancements, enabling capacities to scale from several hundred kilowatts to multi-megawatt plants over the last ten years.
The inception of the Hydrogen Valleys initiative can be traced back to 2017, with the FCH-Regions Initiative, which engaged 89 regions and cities from 22 countries in shaping green energy transitions. This initiative laid the groundwork for the European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership, established in May 2019 under the S2 EU Hydrogen Valleys Platform. The partnership facilitates knowledge exchange and strengthens the hydrogen value chain across Europe, promoting the creation of integrated hydrogen ecosystems that span various applications and sectors.
The Hydrogen Valleys concept has gained considerable traction, with projects like BIG HIT, HEAVENN, and Green Hysland becoming flagship models. These projects illustrate the comprehensive approach of Hydrogen Valleys, which includes production, storage, distribution, and utilization of hydrogen across diverse sectors such as mobility, industry, and energy.
The REPowerEU Plan, introduced in May 2022, further amplifies this momentum with a €200 million investment aimed at doubling the number of Hydrogen Valleys in Europe by 2025. This initiative is integral to the EU’s strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the green transition by targeting hard-to-decarbonize industries and promoting renewable hydrogen as a key energy carrier.
Participants of the EU Hydrogen Valleys Days can anticipate a robust agenda featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and presentations by leading experts and policymakers. These sessions will explore topics ranging from policy frameworks and regional case studies to project development assistance and financing mechanisms. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in networking sessions, fostering collaborations that will drive the hydrogen economy forward.
For detailed information on the event’s agenda and to register, please visit the link:
