Large-scale Hydrogen Valley

The scope of this flagship topic is to develop and demonstrate a large-scale Hydrogen Valley. It could demonstrate a combination of technologies either in existing and/or new markets for clean hydrogen (including hard-to-abate sectors), especially when applications are used in symbiose with each other. Proposals should demonstrate innovative approaches at system level: systemic and synergetic integration of hydrogen production (not restricted to electrolysis), distribution and end-use technologies. Proposals may also investigate interoperability, cause-effect stability of the overall system. Technologies demonstrated should be state-of the-art following technological developments previously funded by (but not limited to) the Clean Hydrogen Partnership.

Proposals should respond to the following requirements:

• Production of at least 4000 tonnes of clean hydrogen[[As defined in the SRIA of the Clean Hydrogen JU, clean hydrogen refers to renewable hydrogen. To the demonstration addressed in the proposal it can be foreseen that in the early stages low carbon hydrogen could be used. However, the objective is to move to renewable or clean hydrogen as an ultimate objective in the project. Please refer to the paragraph Rationale for support of the section 3.7 of the SRIA of the Clean Hydrogen JU.]]^{,[[Renewable hydrogen is hydrogen produced using renewable energy (Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU)]]} per year using new hydrogen production capacity (at least for the last 2-years of project demonstration). Due to the large volumes of hydrogen involved, production plants may be distributed across the territories involved but should share common hydrogen supply infrastructure;
• At least two hydrogen applications from two different sectors should be part of the project, with clear focus on energy, industry and transport sectors;
• Demonstrate how new built infrastructure can be integrated and function with existing infrastructure (when relevant), with the aim to maximise the impact of the hydrogen valley in all sectors addressed;
• Monitoring and assessment activities including at least two years of operations;
• Provision of a clear, professional, and ambitious communication plan to ensure high visibility to the public including clear, measurable, and ambitious Key Performance Indicators (KPI);
• Demonstration of how hydrogen enables sector coupling, allows for example H2 storage and/or large integration of renewable energy[[In line with the definitions provided in the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU]] and provides an optimum techno economic solution for the decarbonisation of the activities in the geographical area being addressed;
• Reduction of the carbon emissions and impact on air quality related to the end-uses compared to incumbent technologies;
• Demonstration of how financial viability is expected to be reached after two years of operation.

Proposals should also:

• Provide concrete project implementation plans with a clear calendar, defining the key phases of the implementation of the action (i.e. preparation of the specifications of equipment, manufacturing, permitting, deployment, and operation) and their duration;
• Provide a funding plan to ensure implementation of the project in synergies with other sources of funding. If no other sources of funding will be required, this should be stated clearly in the proposal, with a commitment from the partners to provide own funding. If additional sources of funding will be required, proposals should present a clear plan on which funding programmes at EU and/or national levels will be targeted[[Including applications for funding planned, applications for funding submitted and funding awarded.]]. In these cases, applicants should present a credible planning that includes forecasted funding programmes and their expected time of commitment;
• Clearly and coherently present the Hydrogen Valley (across the whole value chain including hydrogen production, distribution and storage and end uses) including the investments/actions supported directly by this topic as well as other investments / actions supported by other funding /financing sources[[In the context of the topic other investments/actions refer to parts of the hydrogen valley which are necessary to respond to the topic requirements and to deliver a fully functional hydrogen valley but that are not supported with the funding of the Clean Hydrogen JU (e.g. hydrogen production plant supported with national funding, or HRS supported with funding from the Connecting Europe Facility – Transport (CEF-T))]] which are part of the hydrogen valley to be deployed and demonstrated in line with the topic requirements;
• Provide evidence of the commitment and role of public authorities (Member States, Regions, and Cities) and of any other necessary stakeholders (e.g. hydrogen off-takers) at least in the form of Letters of Intent (LOI). The practical implementation of these LOI will be followed during the Grant Agreement implementation;
• Provide a preliminary ‘hydrogen safety planning and management plan’[[In the context of this topic this refers to an early plan indicating how safety will be managed in the project https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/get-involved/european-hydrogen-safety-panel-0/reference-documents_en]] at the project level, which will be further updated during project implementation;
• Ensure coverage of aspects such as replicability and (cross-border) cooperation between regions to facilitate transfer of knowledge across the EU with a focus on fostering replication of Hydrogen Valleys elsewhere;
• Demonstrate how synergies with existing hydrogen valleys will be ensured especially when it comes to skills and know-how exchange;
• Provide a scalability analysis that includes the broader energy system showing how the valley is expected to grow, where applicable, in view to connect initial demonstrations and create synergies with existing energy infrastructure, as well as its possible contribution to the progress of the five hydrogen corridors;
• Highlight sustainability aspects in their description.

The costs for the construction and commissioning phase of the hydrogen production technologies including connection (e.g connection to the electricity grid, electricity costs) and other hydrogen infrastructure (e.g Hydrogen Refueling Station (HRS), storage, pipelines, etc) may be funded while costs of renewable energy plants (e.g. photovolthaic or wind plant) or related costs for operation of the Hydrogen Valley (e.g. electricity for electrolysers) will not be funded.

Proposals are expected to collaborate with the successful applicants under topic “HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-05-03 on ‘Knowledge transfer and training of civil servants, safety officials, and permitting staff to improve safety assessment and licensing procedures across Europe’

Proposals are expected to demonstrate the contribution to EU competitiveness and industrial leadership of the activities to be funded including but not limited to the origin of the equipment and components as well infrastructure purchased and built during the project. These aspects will be evaluated and monitored during the project implementation.

It is expected that Guarantees of origin (GOs) will be used to prove the renewable character of the hydrogen that is produced/used. In this respect consortium may seek out the issuance/purchase and subsequent cancellation of GOs from the relevant Member State issuing body and if that is not yet available the consortium may proceed with the issuance and cancellation of non-governmental certificates (e.g CertifHy[[https://www.certifhy.eu]]).

Proposals are expected to contribute towards the activities of the EU Mission on Climate- Neutral and Smart Cities, Mission Innovation 2.0 - Clean Hydrogen Mission and the H2V platform. Cooperation with entities from Clean Hydrogen Mission member countries, which are neither EU Member States nor Horizon Europe Associated countries, is encouraged (see section 2.2.6.7 International Cooperation).

Proposals should provide a preliminary draft on ‘hydrogen safety planning and management’ at the project level, which will be further updated during project implementation.

For additional elements applicable to all topics please refer to section 2.2.3.2.