The H2CE project has successfully started its 3-year-long journey. 12 partners from 7 countries (Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia and Slovakia) met in Potsdam on 26-27 April 2023 to discuss the initial steps within the project.
The common challenge H2CE is tackling is a smart integration of hydrogen solutions and renewable energies into the regional energy transition to reduce GHG emissions from different sectors. The project focuses on transferable energy planning at local and regional levels for EU regions. The overall project objective is to empower public authorities and administration in Central Europe (CE) to integrate hydrogen proactively and sustainably into regional planning and 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 and development, having received only a little attention to date: existing information and support addresses the needs and perspectives of project owners and industry, treating public authorities as (passive) framework conditions instead of understanding their expertise and authority as a further means to pro-actively support change.
The implementation approach is the joint development of strategies and 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 the best use of it in the transition phase by synchronising projects, capacities and infrastructures and avoiding gaps or overcapacities.
H2CE partnership has discussed the potential of specific activities for collaboration and practical solutions. Regional analysis in each country will provide an initial common framework for hydrogen uptake. The GIS model platform and energy cells model will provide an effective online tool for mapping and analysis of hydrogen infrastructure and its utilization. H2 voucher financing tool and the establishment of H2 competence centres and capacity-building activities are some other examples of practical H2CE solutions. H2CE Collaboration Platform will act as a central hub for the hydrogen network of various key players and stakeholders, sharing knowledge and information.