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High Coast to West Coast Hydrogen Valley

Project description

Building a hydrogen valley for Europe’s clean energy future

Europe’s shift to hydrogen depends on building systems that can be scaled. The EU-funded HiWHYV aims to establish Sweden’s first large-scale hydrogen valley, a strategic link between the renewable-rich north and the industrial demand of the west coast. The scale is nearly one gigawatt of electrolysis capacity. However, the real innovation lies in the project’s efficiency. The project does not let by-products go to waste. It integrates the reuse of heat and oxygen back into the power grid and local industries. This demand-driven approach creates a fully integrated supply chain (from production and storage to transport), offering a repeatable model for the rest of Europe’s emerging hydrogen economy.

Objective

HiWHyV will establish Sweden’s first large-scale hydrogen valley by connecting two complementary regional hubs: the West Coast Hydrogen Hub, home to the country’s largest hydrogen demand and industrial infrastructure, and the High Coast Hydrogen Hub, one of Europe’s most favourable regions for renewable hydrogen production. Together, these hubs form a dual hydrogen valley model that integrates production, conversion, storage, transport, and end-use across multiple sectors, including industry, transport, and energy. HiWHYV deploys 994 MW of electrolysis capacity across nine hydrogen nodes, producing up to 132,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually. Applications include e-fuels (e-SAF and e-methanol), green fertilisers, and hydrogen-based mobility and backup power. Industrial symbiosis will be demonstrated through the reuse of residual oxygen and waste heat in aquaculture and district heating, enhancing system efficiency and sustainability.
HiWHyV showcases full hydrogen value chains at commercial scale, integrating multiple technologies and use cases, and pioneering a demand-led, regionally adapted deployment strategy. The project also supports replication across Europe, with dedicated actions in three follower regions (Germany, Spain, and Greece), and the development of digital tools, policy recommendations, and a whitebook to guide future hydrogen valleys.
In parallel, HiWHyV embeds systemic enablers for long-term impact, including governance alignment, infrastructure planning, public engagement, skills development, and energy system modelling. Through its Transition Arena, the project fosters co-creation among stakeholders from industry, government, academia, and civil society.
Contributing directly to the objectives of the Clean Hydrogen JU, REPowerEU, and the Green Deal, HiWHyV will strengthen Sweden’s position in the European hydrogen economy and serve as a blueprint for scalable, integrated, and resilient hydrogen ecosystems across EU.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-JU-IA - HORIZON JU Innovation Actions

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025

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Coordinator

RISE RESEARCH INSTITUTES OF SWEDEN AB
Net EU contribution
€ 2 526 687,50
Address
BRINELLGATAN 4
501 15 Boras
Sweden
Region
Södra Sverige Västsverige Västra Götalands län
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (38)

Partners (12)