Wanting to make strong headways in achieving the continent’s decarbonisation goals, the duo hope to both enhance the development of hydrogen projects and foster economic prosperity across regional communities.

To do this, hydrogen valleys will be a key focal point. Set to be catalysts for emerging hydrogen economies, hydrogen valleys are a geographical area where several hydrogen applications are combined into an integrated ecosystem.

Through both hydrogen valleys, as well as other focuses that the partnership will collaborate on, it is hoped investments into both local and regional hydrogen value chains will be made to enhance the roll-out of hydrogen technologies.

On the plans, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe, said, “Hydrogen valleys are a critical piece of the hydrogen economy puzzle. Empowering European regions is key in strengthening European leadership in hydrogen technologies. Hydrogen valleys will ensure a comfortable transition to a green energy and foster economic prosperity of EU citizens.”

The European Hydrogen Valleys Partnership is represented by the four regions of Aragon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Normandie and the Northern Netherlands – and representatives of each region are enthusiastic about the new project.

Hubert Dejean de la Bâtie, Vice President of the Regional Council of Normandy, said, “In order to achieve the goals set by the Paris climate agreement and recalled in the EU Green Deal, it is crucial to reinforce the links between industrial players and local authorities. This will help setting-up bigger projects with real impact on the ground.”

Tjisse Stelpstra, Regional Minister, Province of Drenthe, added, “This MoU will help us to collaborate more closely in the future with Hydrogen Europe on certain key aspects like project development. This will be possible thanks to the creation of a new Regional Pillar within Hydrogen Europe, which will have its own resources to foster these synergies.”

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