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EU approves €1.4 billion in state aid for hydrogen projects

The European Commission has approved an additional €1.4 billion in state aid for hydrogen. This marks the fourth Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for hydrogen, named "IPCEI Hy2Move," and complements the first three initiatives focused on the hydrogen value chain.

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Sabina Koll

Sabina Koll

Journalist Trans.info

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4.06.2024

  • IPCEI Hy2Tech, approved on July 15, 2022, focuses on developing hydrogen technologies for end users.
  • IPCEI Hy2Use, approved on September 21, 2022, specifically targets hydrogen applications in industry.
  • IPCEI Hy2Infra, approved on February 15, 2024, tackles infrastructure investments not covered by the first two IPCEIs.

IPCEI Hy2Move focuses on research, innovation, and the first industrial introduction in the hydrogen value chain. It was jointly prepared and submitted by seven member states: Germany, Estonia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Spain. Together, these EU states will provide up to €1.4 billion in public funds, which the European Commission expects to mobilise an additional €3.3 billion in private investment.

Eleven companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups, from various member states will carry out a total of 13 projects within this IPCEI. German companies Airbus and BMW are involved in some of the projects.

Germany, Slovakia, and Spain can partially finance their projects through the Recovery and Resilience Facility because they included their participation in IPCEI Hy2Move in their plans.

“Hydrogen can help us achieve zero-emission mobility and transport of goods,” said Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for “A Europe Fit for the Digital Age.” “Investing in hydrogen mobility and transport technology is often very risky for a single member state or company. This is where the State aid rules on IPCEIs come into play. The IPCEI Hy2Move approved today is an example of very ambitious cooperation at a European level towards a common key objective. It demonstrates how competition policy and breakthrough innovation can work together.”

This project supports the EU’s objective of reducing emissions from mobility and transport by 90% to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. By promoting the use of hydrogen as a fuel, the project contributes to the objectives of the European Green Deal, the EU Hydrogen Strategy, and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

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