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The European Union has approved 1.4 billion euros in IPCEI support

The European Commission has greenlit the fourth wave of Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) to support the hydrogen value chain. This IPCEI, known as Hy2Move, focuses on hydrogen mobility and marks the end of the Hydrogen IPCEI programme first launched back in 2019. Previous waves include Hy2Tech (July 15, 2022), Hy2Use (September 21, 2023), and Hy2Infra (February 15, 2024). Together, these initiatives aim to raise over €43 billion from a blend of public and private funds, supporting more than 120 projects involving nearly 100 European companies.  Hy2Move will see Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Spain collectively inject up to €1.4 billion in public funding from various national sources. This significant public investment is expected to attract at least €3.3 billion in private capital, resulting in a total financial effort of €4.7 billion.  Eleven companies, with the support of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will focus on 13 projects spanning several key segments:  Development of mobility and transport applications: Integrating hydrogen technologies into various transport modes (road, maritime, aviation), including fuel cell vehicle platforms for buses and trucks; High-performance fuel cell technologies: Generating sufficient power to propel ships and locomotives using hydrogen; Next-generation on-board storage solutions: Creating lightweight, robust hydrogen tanks for aircraft to ensure safety and efficiency; Technologies for hydrogen production for mobility: Supplying hydrogen refuelling stations on-site with pressurized, 99.99% pure fuel-cell-grade hydrogen. Hydrogen Europe welcomes this latest announcement as it represents another significant commitment to scaling up hydrogen capabilities that will facilitate the decarbonisation of the mobility sector.  Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe, commented: “We are delighted to see the successful final chapter of the hydrogen IPCEIs. It is now crucial that Member States make the necessary resources available for all waves and establish the right conditions for these projects to be delivered as soon as possible.”   Moving forward, Member States must now allocate and disburse the financial resources for all projects. Many projects from the previous waves have yet to receive their funding. Hydrogen Europe calls for the IPCEI mechanism to be renewed and broadened in scope, with its processes streamlined, making it a robust instrument with which, alongside other state aid instruments across Member States, the next Commission may help support its climate and competitiveness goals. The original news

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National hydrogen associations commit efforts to advance clean hydrogen.

On 14 May 2024, national hydrogen associations from across Europe gathered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to strengthen their cooperation in the deployment of hydrogen technologies. The outcome of the meeting was the signature of a Cooperation Charter for European Associations Advancing Clean Hydrogen, which will guide the joint efforts to establish favourable conditions for European leadership in hydrogen technologies.  The priority topic of the discussion was the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive The European Hydrogen Associations Assembly, organised by Hydrogen Europe and co-hosted by NLHydrogen, counted with the participation of 23 national associations , including the Hungarian Hydrogen Technology Association. The Hungarian association was represented by Zoltán Butsi, general secretary. The key topic of the discussion was the transposition of the Renewable Energy Directive and how to ensure the development of enabling regulation in different Member States of the EU. The event counted with a keynote speech from Karlo van Dam, Director of Sustainable Industry at the Dutch Ministry of Economics and Climate.  Recognising the strategic role of national associations for the development of favourable national legal frameworks and the importance of the upcoming European Parliament elections, the event and the Charter mark a significant milestone in the implementation of a unified European approach. Through the signed document, the associations commit to work together towards their common goals, via actions to promote hydrogen technologies deployment, de-risking of investments and the development of capacity building efforts.  “The Cooperation Charter for European Associations Advancing Clean Hydrogen – signed here today with more than 20 national hydrogen associations – is an expression of our commitment to working together in the coming years to facilitate hydrogen deployment at national levels”, says Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe.  “It is a very anticipated event, recognising the role of our hydrogen associations in supporting their governments and industry in the challenging task of transposing sector defining legislation and targets at national level, such as RED III.”  Key principles in the Cooperation Charter for European Associations Advancing Clean Hydrogen:    Advocating for comprehensive policy backing for hydrogen technologies at national, regional, and European levels;  Working together to establish thriving clean hydrogen markets and skills development, based on a technology open approach;  Supporting the effective integration of EU legislation into national frameworks, fostering harmonisation across Europe;  Sharing best practices through participation in national and European events organised by fellow associations, and actively participating in the European Hydrogen Week;  Establishing alliances with national chambers of commerce and other relevant organisations to advocate for hydrogen as a crucial tool for reducing carbon emissions. 

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