EU launches €184m clean hydrogen programme
The programme will support hydrogen projects across Europe, including the creation hydrogen valleys supplying the gas to multiple sectors.
The EU funded Horizon Europe programme has announced €184.5m (£155m) in funding for hydrogen-focused projects as part of its Clean Hydrogen Partnership.
The 2025 Call for Proposals invites companies operating in the hydrogen technology industry to apply for funding, with a focus on upscaling cost-effective hydrogen production, storage and fuel cell projects.
Valerie Bouillon-Delporte, Executive Director of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, said the funding would support the growth of a competitive hydrogen value chain in the continent.
She said: “We are looking at expanding hydrogen’s applications in key sectors, enhancing fuel cell technologies and hydrogen electrolysis efficiency, while tackling major market challenges, such as reducing hydrogen’s production costs, improving material durability and safety, and strengthening Europe’s hydrogen infrastructure.”
Funding for the call is allocated to five different areas: €40m (£33m) for renewable hydrogen production, €16m (£13.4m) for hydrogen storage and distribution, €17m (14.3m) for transport applications, €5m (£4.3m) for heat and power projects, and €6.5m (£5.4m) for cross cutting activities.
The remaining €80m is part of the RePowerEU plan for the development of Hydrogen Valleys in Europe, grouped projects operating in the same area and covering multiple steps of the value chain.
“Hydrogen valleys will again be an important part of the call, in a drive to support both large and small-scale Hydrogen ecosystems integrating production, distribution, and use.” Bouillon-Delporte said.
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s call marks its fourth invitation for funding since 2021, when the public-private partnership took over the portfolio of the EU’s Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking, which dates back to 2002.
Since then, the partnership has been allocated a budget of €1.2bn (£1bn) to support projects and hydrogen valleys between 2021 and 2027, with previous successful bids including the EVERYWH2ERE project developing integrated fuel cell stacks and the HEAVENN hydrogen valley in Northern Netherlands.
Applicants hoping to benefit from funding through the 2025 call have until 23 April 2025 to apply.
