Empowering H2-ready regions in Central Europe

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-03-13

Description

Description (EN):

The common challenges H2CE is tackling are a smart integration of hydrogen solutions & renewable energies into the regional energy transition to reduce GHG emissions from different sectors. The project focuses on transferable energy planning at local & regional levels for EU regions. The overall project objective is to empower public authorities & administration in Central Europe (CE) to integrate hydrogen proactively & sustainably into regional planning & development. The expected change is an acceleration of hydrogen infrastructure ramp-up and more efficient use of available funds. The innovative approach focuses on regional planning & development, having received only little attention to date: Existing information & support addresses needs & perspectives of project owners & industry, treating public authorities as (passive) framework condition instead of understanding their expertise and authority as a further means to pro-actively support change. Main results are mechanisms to empower regional decision makers to support a hydrogen-based energy transition, the initiation of a cross-regional & transnational network of H2-ready regions, & the implementation of a digital collaboration platform. The hydrogen project owners & industry will benefit by accelerating & easing the ramp-up of the regional hydrogen economy. Other regions in CE will benefit from the information & collaboration platform, the guidelines for strategies & action plans serving as orientation. The implementation approach is the joint development of strategies & tools for H2-ready regions: WP1 focuses on how to integrate hydrogen into strategies and action plans (blueprints), WP2 on how to integrate hydrogen into local and regional energy systems, and WP3 on how to secure efficient use of knowledge, capacities and resources. Transnational cooperation is required to make best use of it in the transition phase by synchronising projects, capacities & infrastructures & avoid gaps or overcapacities.

Actual Achievements (EN):

In this first phase, the H2CE project has made significant strides in securing its overall objective which is to empower public authorities and regions in Central Europe to integrate hydrogen into the planning aspects and governance of the energy transition. H2CE started to work from a regional perspective towards a transnational one on the Central European scale. The Project Partners elaborated and agreed on a set of common indicators for regional “H2 readiness”. These indicators were defined to provide a common basis to carry out analyses of the hydrogen economy in all the Central European regions covered by the project. Partners already started with their analyses and experiences were exchanged within the partnership fostering cooperation on an interregional and transnational scale. With the joint development of these indicators the cooperation between the Partners was fostered and therefore a first project milestone reached. The regional analyses will allow the development of regional strategies action plans, and enable the Partnership to summarise the results on transnational level. Regarding the goal to elaborate on regional support mechanisms for energy system transition and participation to enhance the take-up of regional hydrogen economies, a detailed work plan was developed. Firs steps were made by Partners to plan and build a GIS database platform for capacity building of authorities and preparing the grounds for a local energy cell model. The initial work on developing a Central Europe H2 network and Collaboration Platform focused on establishing the network of actors which will eventually form the Network of H2-ready regions in Europe. By engaging a total of 40 organisations including all Project Partners and Associated Organisations, now cooperating across borders and committing to invest into the project activities, the Project Partnership built the grounds for a network which will continue to exist after the project ends using the H2CE Collaboration Platform as a vehicle. That is why in parallel, the concept of the Collaboration Platform was collaboratively elaborated fostering the cooperation between Partners.

Project outputs: Strategy for H2-ready regions
(EN)
Action plan for H2-ready regions(EN)
Tool for strategic decision support and planning(EN)
Testing of setting up regional H2 Competence Centres(EN)
Transregional H2CE network(EN)
H2CE Solutions(EN)

Thematic information

Traditional energy Green technologies

Priority: (VI-B_CE_2) Cooperating for a greener central Europe

Priority specific objective: RSO2.1. Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 052 Other renewable energy (including geothermal energy)

Partners (12)

Lead Partner: Gemeinsame Landesplanungsabteilung Berlin-Brandenburg

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE273213130

Department: European Spatial Development

Address: Henning-von-Tresckow-Str., 14467 Potsdam, Germany

Department address: Henning-von-Tresckow-Str., 14467 Potsdam, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.gl.berlin-brandenburg.de

Total budget: EUR 466 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 372 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 93 200.00

Contractors:

Name: blue! advancing european proj.
VAT registration or tax identification number: DE 215 440 964
Name: INFRASTRUKTUR & UMWELT
VAT registration or tax identification number: DE111675390
Name: Thiemer & Ralf Part-GmbH
VAT registration or tax identification number: 49/622/01334

Inštitút rozvoja verejnej správy

Name: Inštitút rozvoja verejnej správy

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SK2121107010

Address: Domašská, 82107 Bratislava, Slovakia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.irvs.sk

Total budget: EUR 188 615.88

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 150 892.70

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 723.18

Regionalna energetsko-klimatska agencija Sjeverozapadne Hrvatske

Name: Regionalna energetsko-klimatska agencija Sjeverozapadne Hrvatske

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 984364246

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR93298204867

Address: Andrije Žaje, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.regea.org

Total budget: EUR 119 420.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 95 536.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 884.00

Grad Zagreb

Name: Grad Zagreb

Department: City Office for Economy, Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Planning Sector for Energy & Climate

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 989531727

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR61817894937

Address: Trg Stjepana Radica, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

Department address: Trg Stjepana Radica, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.zagreb.hr

Total budget: EUR 79 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 63 840.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 15 960.00

Hospodářská a sociální rada Ústeckého kraje, z.s.

Name: Hospodářská a sociální rada Ústeckého kraje, z.s.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 905242025

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 265 30 929 | IČO (EN)

Address: tř. Budovatelů , 434 01 Most, Czech Republic

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.hsr-uk.cz/

Total budget: EUR 248 360.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 198 688.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 49 672.00

WOJEWÓDZTWO POMORSKIE

Name: WOJEWÓDZTWO POMORSKIE

Department: Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship Department of Economic Development

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 898174508

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 5833163786 | NIP (EN)

Address: Ul. Okopowa, 81 – 810 Gdańsk, Poland

Department address: Ul. Okopowa, 81 – 810 Gdańsk, Poland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.pomorskie.eu

Total budget: EUR 156 480.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 125 184.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 31 296.00

Unione Regionale delle Camere di Commercio del Veneto

Name: Unione Regionale delle Camere di Commercio del Veneto

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999734478

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT02406800272

Address: Via delle Industrie Edificio Lybra, 30175 Marghera - Venezia, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.unioncamereveneto.it

Total budget: EUR 249 999.64

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 199 999.71

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 49 999.93

Fondazione Istituto sui Trasporti e la Logistica

Name: Fondazione Istituto sui Trasporti e la Logistica

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998928990

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT02446681203

Address: viale Aldo Moro, 40127 Bologna, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.fondazioneitl.org

Total budget: EUR 200 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 160 160.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 40 040.00

Fundacja Dumni z Lubina

Name: Fundacja Dumni z Lubina

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 888980266

Partner’s ID if not PIC: PL6922515218

Address: Ul. Tysiąclecia, 59-300 Lubin , Poland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Total budget: EUR 99 999.98

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 79 999.98

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 20 000.00

Energie Agentur Steiermark GmbH

Name: Energie Agentur Steiermark GmbH

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 929061442

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU68737959

Address: Nikolaiplatz, 8020 Graz, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://www.ea-stmk.at/

Total budget: EUR 221 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 177 120.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 44 280.00

Contractors:

Name: HyCentA Research GmbH
VAT registration or tax identification number: ATU61609646
Name: Buchhaltungsagentur des Bundes
VAT registration or tax identification number: ATU57953646
Name: STRATECO OG
VAT registration or tax identification number: ATU73911519

Stadt- und Überlandwerke GmbH Lübben

Name: Stadt- und Überlandwerke GmbH Lübben

Department: Executive board

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE138859601

Address: Bahnhofstraße, 15907 Lübben, Germany

Department address: Bahnhofstraße, 15907 Lübben, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://www.stadtwerke-luebben.de

Total budget: EUR 148 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 119 040.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 29 760.00

Contractors:

Name: Thiemer & Ralf PartG mbH
VAT registration or tax identification number: DE279231507
Name: Reiner Lemoine Institut gGmbH
VAT registration or tax identification number: DE274491408

Regionalentwicklungsgesellschaft Nordwestbrandenburg REG mbH

Name: Regionalentwicklungsgesellschaft Nordwestbrandenburg REG mbH

Department: Division Regional Development

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE162060124

Address: Alt-Ruppiner-Allee, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany

Department address: Alt-Ruppiner-Allee, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://www.reg-nordwestbrandenburg.de/

Total budget: EUR 196 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 156 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 39 200.00

Contractors:

Name: RLI Reiner Lemoine Institut
VAT registration or tax identification number: DE274491408
Name: Thiemer & Ralf, StB PartG mbB
VAT registration or tax identification number: 49/662/01334

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Empowering H2-ready regions in Central Europe

Project acronym: H2CE

Project ID: CE0100055

Project start date: 2023-04-01

Project end date: 2026-03-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Hydrogen Valleys (EN) | The information platform features more than 30 global Hydrogen Valleys with a cumulative investment volume of EUR 30+ billion, proving high interest of regions. It mainly addresses the project owners’ and investors’ as well as the national policy perspectives, lacking information on regional development and planning (toolbox, lessons learned and support mechanisms). The H2CE project will close the gap by developing best solutions for public authorities and regional decision makers. (EN), Project Development Assistance for Regions (PDA) (EN) | The PDA initiative supports project development to foster hydrogen investment in regions and aims at project5 million €. Only public authorities are eligible to apply, but projects also include other regional stakeholders. The H2CE project complements this initiative by empowering public authorities to not only focus one single (large-scale) project, but to sustainably embed it into regional energy transition strategies and infrastructures, and link it to other local and regional projects and stakeholders. (EN), FCH observatory and FCH Regions hub (EN) | The FCH Observatory platform aims at providing easy-access to existing information for decision-makers in regions, politics, and industry. The information in these platforms is merely technology- and project-oriented and lacks information on best-practices of regional and spatial planning and approval perspectives is evident. The H2CE project will close the gap by developing best solutions for public authorities and regional decision makers. (EN), Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) Platform (EN) | The platform assists EU regions to develop, implement and review their Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (S3). S3 is an innovative approach to boost growth and jobs in Europe, by enabling each region to identify and develop its own competitive advantages. The S3 Platform is open to any regional and national administration and is structured into different topics. Until today, the platform has no dedicated thematic section on hydrogen, the results of the H2CE project may thus contribute to this platform. (EN), TRANSFORMER (Horizon Europe) (EN) | ITL and FDL are partners in the TRANSFORMER project (currently in GAP phase). The project’s ambition is to design long-term systemic transformation frameworks for regions across Europe to accelerate the shift towards climate neutrality, with hydrogen being a key topic. Also, a toolkit (incl. matchmaking mechanisms) and a knowledge hub will be developed. Concrete synergies will be leveraged, esp. with regard to the collaboration platform to be developed in H2CE’s WP3. (EN), GREAT (Connecting Europe Facility) (EN) | The “GREAT” project, co-funded by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), is a private-public partnership aiming to establish alternative fuel infrastructure in regions on the STRING corridor. Two of the GREAT project partners are members in the Scandria®Alliance, headed by the H2CE project’s lead partner. Following the GREAT project, the STRING megaregion applied for CEF funding for the “GREATER4H” to build a connected network of hydrogen fuelling stations. Synergies are foreseen in the reviewing and adaptation of action fields from the transnational strategy developed in the H2CE project’s WP1. (EN), Renewable Gasfield (EN) | EASt is a partner in the "Renewable Gasfield" project. Turning electricity into gas. This process is the focus of the "Renewable Gasfield" project. Building on the findings from the LEADER project "Pre-study Power2Gas Gabersdorf", the implementation of the production of green hydrogen by means of PEM electrolysis and green methane by means of methanisation on an industrial scale is now taking place. (EN), Interreg AS AMETHyST and H2MA (EN) | H2MA will develop hydrogen routes and draft a "hydrogen collaboration framework". Exchange foreseen in strategy development with a focus on the mobility sector. Possible initiation of a local working group of H2MA/H2CE in the region of Styria.
AMETHyST will elaborate hydrogen valleys in the Alpine space. Synergies with H2CE in the needs of public authorities. Exchange is foreseen through H2CE AO13. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 387 959.62

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 910 367.68

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 910 367.68. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Fact sheet of common indicators for regional H2-readiness in planning and development processes
Summary of regional results transferable to European regions-challenges, best-practices a. solutions
Guidelines for the development of a strategy or action plan
Strategies for H2-ready regions
Action plans for H2-ready regions
Report on the testing of a digital GIS database: methodology, prototype and evaluation results
Report on the testing of energy cells model: results of modelling and evaluation
Report on the testing of a strategic decision-support tool
Report on the testing of training course capacity building at public & private organisations
Report on the testing of the methodology H2 voucher mechanism for hydrogen utilisation in Usti
Report on the testing of regional H2 Competence Centres
Peer review document of pilots’ results and mainstreaming at the EU and national levels
Joint mission report on establising a sustainable collaboration network of H2-ready regions (MoU)
Report on network continuation after project end (MoU)
Concept note on joint requirements for an interactive H2CE Collaboration Platform
Report on H2CE Solutions

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EuropeanGreenDeal With respect to the European Green Deal and the ambitions to achieve climate-neutrality by the year 2050, it is highly important to include the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable development in horizontal cooperation. As part of the Green Deal, the European Commission has implemented certain climate-related policies to accelerate the energy transition and the transformation of the energy system. Among these, the EU hydrogen strategy presents a roadmap to harness all opportunities associated with hydrogen and to foster the large-scale deployment of hydrogen use. The “Fit for 55” package was further initiated to meet the EU’s 2030 target to cut net emissions by at least 55 percent. The H2CE project will contribute to the objectives and policies of the European Green Deal from the perspective of regions in central Europe. It will empower regions for the transitional change to hydrogen readiness. It will start from assessing regional disparities, challenges and potentials and will foster jointly developed strategies and regional framework conditions for the accelerated and coordinated ramp-up of the necessary infrastructures for the regional production, the distribution and the use of renewable hydrogen. A central aspect in the H2CE communication objectives is to contribute to and to cross-check the jointly developed action plans (WP1), its capacity-building activities (WP2) and the developed H2CE network and collaboration platform (WP3) with European stakeholders and projects (e.g. Clean Hydrogen Alliance, “Important Projects of Common European Interest” (IPCEI)), as implemented through the EU policies. The H2CE lead partner and the project partners have maintained close contact with EU policy-makers and stakeholders through previous Interreg B projects and other European projects. These networks will be included to solicit feedback on the project results.
TerritorialAgenda2030 The project aligns to the overall objective of the Territorial Agenda 2030 (TAEU) to create a “green Europe”. It addresses the priority of a “healthy environment”. The H2CE project will empower regions to become “H2-ready”. Regions will be equipped with guidance to implement regional approaches and good practices to planning, financing and regulating the transition to hydrogen-based climate-neutral energy cells. The project thus contributes to the territorial and spatial dimensions to support regions to become climate-neutral and resilient. The project combines multi-level governance and fosters place-based approaches. It aims to put into action the foci of the TAEU to address spatial inequalities.
EUStrategyDanubeRegion The project contributes to the first pillar (“connecting the region”) of the macro-regional EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). As an action for the second priority area of “sustainable energy”, it is envisaged “to promote the decarbonisation and the reduction of air pollutants in the transport sector, regarding both public and freight transportation by developing the infrastructure for alternative fuels”. The H2CE project covers the spatial dimensions of the energy transition for regions from the perspective of territorial cooperation. However, the jointly developed use cases in the first work package (WP1) of the H2CE project will include strategic action fields for the public as well as freight transport. Regions will jointly develop action plans on how to create the planning framework to build sustainable solutions for hydrogen infrastructure.
EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion The EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) focuses in its second pillar on the improvement of the connectivity within the region and with the rest of Europe in terms of transport and energy networks. The project contributes to this objective through jointly developed action plans and pilot actions, increasing the wider regional cooperation to overcome bottlenecks and to promote connectivity. The coherent policy frameworks developed in the first work package foster the transition towards a climate-neutral economy and society. The pilot actions in the second work package support public and private actors in the region to analyse, plan and monitor strategic measures for regional development towards the implementation of renewable energy sources (like hydrogen) to the grid, leading to a modernisation of the transport sector and making it more efficient and hence more environmentally friendly.
EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion The Scandria®Alliance as well as the project’s lead partner closely cooperate with and support the work of the coordinators of the priority area “transport” of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). The H2CE project contributes to the EUSBSR’s objective to “connect the region” and the sub-objectives “reliable energy markets” and “climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management”. By empowering regions to setting up the infrastructure for a balanced and harmonised ramp-up of hydrogen capacities and infrastructure, the project contributes to the objective of the EUSBSR. To ensure the continuity and sustainability of the H2CE hydrogen network and collaboration platform, it will be linked with the EU macro-regional strategies.
EUStrategyAlpineRegion The EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP) is central for the project and its strategic territorial embedding. The project contributes to the objective of the EUSALP Action Plan to implement a “more inclusive environmental framework for all and renewable and reliable energy solutions for the future”. The project aims to strengthen transnational cooperation when planning and evaluating energy infrastructure. The project results from the project partners from Unioncamere del Veneto and the Energy Agency of Styria will contribute to make the territory model regions for hydrogen and the transition to climate neutrality.
Other Parts of EU Green Deal with special relevance for the H2CE project:
EU Hydrogen Strategy
The EU Hydrogen Strategy aims at boosting clean H2 production in Europe and integrating H2 as an intrinsic part of the energy system. From 2025 onwards, the acceleration of investment will reach at least 40GW of electrolyser capacities and a production of up to 10 million tonnes of renewable H2 in the EU until 2030. The H2CE project contributes to this strategy by initiating collaboration of neighbouring regions of the EU to create the supportive framework, and a dedicated infrastructure and logistical network.
EU strategy on energy system integration
The EU strategy on energy system integration aims at profoundly reforming the European energy system, replacing the linear, uni-directional energy flows by an efficient circular energy system. To be successful, synergies between energy infrastructures need to be improved and use of regional energy resources must be leveraged. The H2CE project contributes to this strategy by empowering public authorities and regional planning departments to pave the way for investments in new energy solutions and infrastructures.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO87) Organisations cooperating across borders: 28.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP

EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSALP Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-03-31

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

100 / 100 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 017 / 1 018 (99.9%)

Notes on the data

Programme's webpage last visited on 2025-03-17.

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Empowering H2-ready regions in Central Europe

Description

Thematic information

Partners (12)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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