Selected by the European Commission as Projects of Common and Mutual Interest (PCI/PMI), they will receive funds from the Connecting Europe Facility to help finance development.

€176m ($210.3m) of the package will be dedicated to hydrogen infrastructure, with €120m ($143.4m) headed for RWE’s expansion of its underground hydrogen storage in Gronau-Epe, Germany.

The site will be comprised of two converted salt caverns with a total storage capacity for around 38 million cubic metres of hydrogen. It is due to begin commercial operations in July 2027.

The European Commission said the funding would help strengthen energy security and facilitate the “large-scale integration” of green hydrogen.

The remaining €56m ($67m) will be spread between seven hydrogen infrastructure project studies across the Netherlands, Germany, France, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Austria:

• Gasunie and Vopak’s planned green ammonia import terminal, ACE Terminal, in the Port of Rotterdam, could gain €25.62m ($30.6m).
• Uniper’s Green Wilhelmshaven terminal in Germany has been lined up for €10.63m ($12.7m).
• Engie and Air Liquide’s work on storing hydrogen in salt caverns in France’s Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur has been offered €7.54m ($9m).
• €4.2m ($5m) could head for a study on the use of green hydrogen in French industry.
• €4.56m ($5.5m) is tabled for Bulgaria’s internal hydrogen infrastructure.
• Slovakia’s hydrogen backbone could receive €2.53m ($3m).
• A conceptual engineering and FEED preparation on Austria’s hydrogen backbone could grab €1.46m ($1.74m).

€470m ($561.6m) of the package has been earmarked for six electricity projects, including smart grids.

“The projects we are supporting financially will enhance Europe’s competitiveness and energy security, bringing us on a steady pathway towards energy independence,” said Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen.