The working group on green hydrogen, established in Autumn 2022, facilitates knowledge sharing between regions in wider Europe. The group is chaired by Albert Castellanos, Catalonia (ES), who is supported in his work by two Seconded Officers: Albert Ballbé and Elena Herrero Pérez.
Below is a recap of the activities carried out in the context of the Working Group on Green Hydrogen between June 2023 and June 2024.
Current Work in Progress
- Preparation of a peer learning event on green H2 ecosystems online, in autumn 2024
- Publication content and resources on green H2 ecosystems for members of the Working Group ahead of the autumn 2024 event
Connection with Hydrogen Valleys and Hydrogen Ecosystems
The AER Secretariat is gathering intelligence, mapping partners and innovative practices from all over wider Europe to be shared in the Working Group’s activities
Visibility for AER Member Regions
The Working Group also serves as a place to inform interested members of ongoing regional initiatives, projects and events on green hydrogen. This can be via the sharing of regional examples on the AER website as well as via the AER Newsletter and Working Group’s mailings. Members of the Working group are encouraged to make broader use of this opportunity in the coming months.
Participation in International Events
Members of the AER Working Group can represent the AER in international events, and share with members of the group how they are working on green hydrogen with their own hydrogen ecosystems.
Albert Ballbé, programme manager at the General Directorate of Industry at the Government of Catalonia, who is also leading the activities of the AER Working Group on Green Hydrogen, contributed to the European Backbone Talk “Why Regions Matter” organised by Hydrogen Metropole Ruhr.
Information on European Funding Opportunities
Members of the Working Group were invited to attend the European Commission’s matchmaking organised by the European Commission in September 2023. The AER Project Unit is available and willing to support both individual AER members and the Working Group as a whole in scouting funding opportunities and sharing relevant information.
Facilitation of bilateral meetings on Hydrogen Valleys
During the summer 2023 to follow-up on requests expressed at the GA. These meetings were organised together with the AER Membership and Projects Coordinators between different members to explore the possibility of developing a joint Regional Innovation Valley EU project proposal.
Study Visit at the Port of Barcelona – 28 June 2023
This study visit showcased the role of the Port of Barcelona in the green hydrogen economy of Catalonia, featuring the President of the Port Lluís Salvadó, and Hèctor Calls, Head of Environmental Sustainability who presented:
- The Port of Barcelona’s Transition Plan to decarbonize maritime-port activity
- The Port’s main energy needs: present and future
- Projects included in the Energy Transition Plan
- Projects in the port area of alternative fuels with hydrogen and its carriers as protagonists
- Implementation schedules and main challenges
- Catalonia is planning to substantially increase the import of green hydrogen and will therefore have to adapt the port infrastructure.
The second part of the visit was dedicated to a presentation of the Hydrogen Valley of Catalonia, by Isaac Justicia Anto, Director of the technical office of the Hydrogen Valley of Catalonia. The study visit included a boat tour offered by the Port of Barcelona.
The visit took place during the AER 2023 Summer Symposium. For more information, see the wrap-up article.
Meeting of the Working Group – 28 June 2023
The meeting included:
- A presentation by the Port of Hamburg on the decarbonisation of maritime-port activities and the industry
- A presentation by Catalonia on the potential of Regional Innovation Valleys
The meeting took place during the AER 2023 Summer Symposium. For more information, see the wrap-up article
About the Working Group on Green Hydrogen
The proposal for this working group was submitted by Catalonia, supported by Burgenland (AU), Lower Austria (AU), Valle D’Aosta (IT), Flevoland (NL), Maramures (RO), Värmland (SE), Västra Götaland (SE), Fribourg (CH), and Denizli (TR).
The group addresses the crucial transition to renewable hydrogen, a pressing concern given that hydrogen currently makes up less than 2% of Europe’s energy mix and is predominantly produced from fossil fuels. The transition to clean hydrogen from renewable sources like wind and solar is essential but expensive. Regions play a key role in scaling up the renewable hydrogen economy, as noted by the Committee of the Regions in 2020, highlighting green hydrogen’s potential to promote regional and local development.
This group focuses on key topics such as
- the hydrogen value chain
- decarbonisation of transport and industry
- green hydrogen production
- the development of Hydrogen Valleys.
The working group currently includes 17 regions: Catalonia (ES), Abruzzo (IT), Vale d’Aosta (IT), Västra Götaland (SE), Värmland (SE), Kosice Self-governing Region (SK), Lower Austria (AT), Burgenland (AT), Mayo (IE), Donegal (IE), Grand Est (FR), Fribourg (CH), Denizli (TR), Gaziantep (TR), Adana (TR), Flevoland (NL), and Maramures (RO).
It’s Possible to Join Anytime!
To join this AER Working Group, exchange with peers, and contribute to shaping future activities, please fill in this form. AER members can propose new working groups on topics of interest, fostering innovation and impactful change.
This article was written by Nicola Miceli, who did an internship on Policy & Knowledge Transfer at the AER Secretariat from January 2024 to June 2024.
