
Opinion
Interreg
The philosophy and profound impact of the European Interreg programme

Aurora García
Regions and Cities Knowledge Area Leader
HYDROGEN IPCEI
A total of two Major Projects of Common European Interest have been approved in the hydrogen value chain
José Luis Fernández de Piérola
Senior Consultant on National Spanish Projects
The second Hydrogen IPCEI, called HyUse, was approved on 21 September. This Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) involves 29 companies, including three SMEs, which will carry out up to 35 projects, in one or more of the 13 participating Member States. The project will have up to €5.2 billion in public funding, which is expected to unlock a further €7 billion in private investment.
Hy2Use complements the first IPCEI on the hydrogen value chain, the Hy2Tech IPCEI, which the Commission approved on 15 July 2022. Both IPCEIs address the hydrogen value chain and are aligned with the objectives of key EU policy initiatives such as the Green Deal, the EU Hydrogen Strategy and REPowerEU. However, they do so in different ways.
Hy2Tech will cover a broad part of the hydrogen technology value chain, such as:
It will pursue major technological breakthroughs, such as new high-efficiency electrode materials, more efficient fuel cells and innovative transport technologies, including for the first-time hydrogen-based mobility. With this IPCEI we see EU hydrogen production moving from the lab to the factory floor, and our industry turning technological dominance into commercial leadership.
IPCEI Hy2Use focuses on projects for the deployment of hydrogen-related infrastructures and hydrogen applications in the industrial sector, bringing Europe closer to the target of installing 6GW of renewable electrolysis by 2024 and 40 GW by 2030 and facilitating the clean transition of energy-intensive industries to increase our independence from fossil fuels.
The project will cover much of the hydrogen value chain by supporting:
The construction of hydrogen-related infrastructures, notably large-scale electrolysers and transport infrastructures, to produce, store and transport renewable and low-carbon hydrogen.
The development of innovative and more sustainable technologies to integrate hydrogen into industrial processes in multiple sectors, especially those that have the most difficulties to decarbonise, such as steel, cement, glass, and ammonia.
Hydrogen has enormous potential for the future, being indispensable for the diversification of energy sources and the green transition. With these two new IPCEI projects (and those to come in the field of Mobility) Europe reinforces its commitment to position itself as a leading region for the industrial transformation of hydrogen, in line with recent decisive developments such as the creation of partnerships through the Clean Hydrogen Alliance, the Hydrogen bank or the new EU-wide standards to enable the hydrogen market and create specific infrastructures, on which work is underway.
Pamplona Office
Senior Consultant on National Spanish Projects
Opinion
Interreg
Aurora García
Regions and Cities Knowledge Area Leader
Opinion
HORIZON EUROPE
Margherita Volpe
Security, Space & Defence Knowledge Area Leader
Opinion
Innovation Fund
Rocío Fernández
EU Finance Knowledge Area Leader
News
Four next-generation batteries topics under the 2018-2020 Horizon 2020 Work Programme are open for application as of 3 December. They make available EU funding of €90 million.
Opinion
Innovation Fund
Rocío Fernández
EU Finance Knowledge Area Leader
Publication
European programmes
We have gathered the most relevant European Programmes calls for proposals in a calendar, available for download!