Europe’s clean hydrogen transition has reached a decisive stage, focusing on large-scale deployment. The most visible sign of this shift is the rise of Hydrogen Valleys. These are regional ecosystems where hydrogen is produced, stored, distributed, and used across multiple sectors. Cities, regions, and industrial clusters are driving Europe’s clean hydrogen economy from the ground up.
From Concept to Reality
Hydrogen Valleys, developed through the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, integrate the full hydrogen value chain – from renewable production to industrial use and mobility – within one geography.
They combine Europe’s strengths in research, regional cohesion, and industrial innovation. Decarbonisation in these valleys also drives competitiveness, job creation, and energy security. The REPowerEU Plan recognises their importance, allocating €200m to double the number of Hydrogen Valleys by 2025.
Currently, Europe has around 60 Hydrogen Valleys in development or operation, representing €150bn in investment. Over 20 of these projects have received support from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, mobilising €1.3bn in investment.
From Groningen to Galicia, and Crete to North Sea ports, regional ecosystems are producing, storing, distributing, and using hydrogen locally.
Hydrogen Valleys vary in scale and geography. Large-scale projects like NAHV (northern Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia) and BalticSeaH2 (southern Finland and Estonia) aim to produce over 4,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year. Smaller valleys like Green Hysland in Mallorca and H2tALENT in Portugal show hydrogen’s viability in islands and dispersed areas. The model applies across industries and transport.
Valleys also build public trust. Citizens see hydrogen vehicles on the streets. Industry can expand infrastructure, forming cross-sector collaborations. Investors evaluate real assets, and policymakers watch strategy become reality.
Facilitate, Stimulate, Accelerate
Regions and cities are key to hydrogen deployment. They plan transport fleets, manage industrial zones, and oversee permitting. Many, however, lack the expertise or financing to make projects bankable.
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s Project Development Assistance (PDA) initiative bridges this gap. The Hydrogen Valleys Facility provides tailored technical, financial, and legal advice to help projects reach a final investment decision (FID).
Two support tracks exist:
- PDA Light (6 weeks) – early-stage concept refinement and pre-feasibility.
- PDA Plus (12 weeks) – advanced projects nearing FID.
In 2025, 15 valleys from 11 countries received assistance, demonstrating Europe’s demand for hands-on project support.
Knowledge Sharing for Acceleration
The Hydrogen Valleys Knowledge Centre offers best practices, case studies, and templates on governance, permitting, financing, and stakeholder engagement. It accelerates replication, allowing new valleys to build on proven experience and fosters peer-to-peer learning among policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders.
About the Clean Hydrogen Partnership
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership is the EU’s public-private partnership supporting research and innovation to accelerate clean hydrogen development and deployment in Europe.
About the H2V Facility
Funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, the H2V Facility accelerates Hydrogen Valleys toward FID, supporting the EU target of 50 operational or under-construction valleys by 2030.
Over five years, the facility has provided non-financial support through three pillars:
- Project Development Assistance (PDA) – from idea to feasibility and FID.
- H2V Knowledge Centre – offering content, best practices, and peer learning.
- H2V Platform – enhanced technical and content features to meet evolving Hydrogen Valley needs.
