The H2HEAT project provides several outcomes and evidence that are directly relevant for supporting the development and strengthening of EU policy priorities, particularly in the areas of energy transition, the deployment of hydrogen technologies, the decarbonisation of critical infrastructure, and the enhancement of resilience in isolated territories. By demonstrating how green hydrogen can be effectively integrated into essential services such as hospitals, H2HEAT contributes directly to key EU strategies including the European Green Deal, the Hydrogen Strategy for a Climate-Neutral Europe, and the REPowerEU plan.Specifically the project demonstrates the technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness of producing and using green hydrogen on a small to medium scale within isolated or outermost regions. It shows that hydrogen technologies can be successfully integrated into existing infrastructures, providing a replicable model that can be extended to other public service facilities across Europe. Furthermore, H2HEAT underlines the importance of hybrid renewable–grid energy systems to ensure continuous and reliable energy supply, particularly in regions where renewable energy generation can be intermittent. The project also highlights the socio-economic benefits that regional hydrogen ecosystems can deliver, notably through job creation, skills development, and greater economic resilience at the local level. Additionally, it identifies critical regulatory, permitting, and licensing challenges encountered during the implementation of green hydrogen projects, offering valuable insights that can guide future policy simplifications and harmonisation efforts.Building on these findings, the project recommends several measures to facilitate the widespread adoption of green hydrogen. These include simplifying and harmonising permitting processes across Member States, particularly for smaller-scale projects, and establishing dedicated financial support schemes to promote hydrogen integration into key public infrastructures, including healthcare, education, and transport. Strengthening regulatory frameworks to accommodate hybrid renewable–grid hydrogen systems, promoting the standardisation of safety protocols and equipment certifications, and supporting the development of regional hydrogen hubs and green hydrogen valleys, particularly in outermost and insular regions, are also essential. Finally, the project advocates for supporting internationalisation efforts and ensuring that successful experiences like H2HEAT are replicated and inform future strategies both within the EU and globally.Through these contributions, H2HEAT offers a practical, evidence-based foundation to inform and support EU policy-making, strengthening the deployment of clean hydrogen technologies and advancing Europe’s transition towards a sustainable and resilient energy future
