(Brussels Belgium) - The EU Commission, the European hydrogen industry, scientists and the European regions want to work more closely together in research and development. This is intended to accelerate the development of hydrogen centers (“Hydrogen Valley”). A corresponding agreement was signed in Brussels at the end of last week by the Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, as well as Hydrogen Europe, Hydrogen Europe Research and S3 H2 Valleys.
Strengthen synergies
The joint declaration also calls for sustainable investments, the strengthening of synergies between financing sources, the exchange of knowledge and the development of regional hydrogen networks. The aim is to promote the development and implementation of hydrogen projects along the entire value chain at local and regional level, explained Mariya Gabriel: “Hydrogen Valleys are the key to creating a European research and innovation area for hydrogen.”
After the signing (from left to right): Tjisse Stelpstra, co-head of the S3 European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership; Mariya Gabriel, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth; Luigi Crema, Head of Research Hydrogen Europe; Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO Hydrogen Europe. © Hydrogen Europe
The number of “Hydrogen Valleys” in operation should double by 2025, according to a statement. There are currently 38 in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. This would link hydrogen production, transport and applications from environmentally friendly mobility to industrial raw materials.
As early as July 2020, a group of eleven transmission system operators in Brussels under the title “European Hydrogen Backbone“Presented a concept to connect European “Hydrogen Valleys” through a 6.800 kilometer long hydrogen network. The pipeline system could be completed gradually from the mid-2020s to 2030. It was said at the time that the network should be 2040 kilometers long by 23.000. 75 percent would consist of repurposed natural gas pipelines, connected by new sections.
Photos
The EU and industry want to build further “Hydrogen Valleys”. © European Union / Jan Krusa
Link to signed text:
Joint Declaration on Hydrogen Valleys
