As the results of the third EU Hydrogen Auction came in during the Hydrogen Valley Week in the Diamond Port house of Antwerp from May 4 -8, 2026 (see post below), the question came up how Hydrogen Valleys could benefit form the rock bottom green hydrogen cost predictions of the 9 winning projects.
As this year again the EU Maritime/aviation Auction was won by two Norsk companies GreenH, and GEN 2 Energy (winners of the first Maritime bunkering auction last year). Last year als the Norwegian Hydrogen won bunkering bid, questions came up what that would contribute to the current competitiveness of EU’s hydrogen industry and how Hydrogen Valleys coud benefit from these Auction projects, by sniping up a small bit of this “cheap” green hydrogen to power first valley’s fleets.
One of the larger Hydrogen Valleys added to the list of now 25 EU funded Valleys through the Clean Hydorgen Partnership, NORHyWAY , coordinated by the RENERGY industrial cluster, receiving EUR 21 million. The project can now move forward to build . NORHyWAY, Norway’s – and the Nordic region’s – first large‑scale Hydrogen Valley, will demonstrate a complete hydrogen value chain at industrial scale, increasing green hydrogen production and developing value chains for maritime and land‑based transport.
NORHyWAY represents a total investment of roughly EUR 963.3 million. The project aims to develop production capacity of 37 081 metric tons of hydrogen per year by 2035. This corresponds to an annual emissions reduction of up to 345 000 metric tons of CO2, which is comparable to the emissions from approximately 8 000–10 000 flights between London and Oslo.
As maritime vessels are included and DG GROW director general at the Hydrogen Valley Day on May 6, 2026 referred to the Commission’s “ferries focus” in their future strategy, something should move form Aution to Valleys that have a link to ports. These maritime valleys have now generated over €1.7 bln investment, since the programme started in 2019. Would it therefor not be time they are linked to these other nationally funding EU H2 Auction winners?
Heavenn, Netherlands
Coordinator STICHTING NEW ENERGY COALITION,
Project Period 01-01-2020 – 31-12-2027
EU contribution 20 M€ Project costs 96 M€
Green Hysland, Spain
Coordinator ENAGAS RENOVABLE SA, ES
Project Period 01-01-2021 – 31-12-2025
EU contribution 10 M€ Project costs 24 M€
GreenBaltic:H2: Finland and Estonia, including methanol and ammonia production
Coordinator CLIC INNOVATION OY, FI
Project Period 01-06-2023 – 31-05-2028
EU Contribution 25 mln Project costs 33 mln
CraveH2, Crete
Coordinator EUNICE, EL
Project Period 01-06-2023 – 31-05-2028
EU Contribution 8 mln Project costs 11 mln
HYSouthMarmara, Turkey
Coordinator GUNEY MARMARA KALKINMA AJANSI,
Project Period 01-07-2023 – 30-06-2028
EU contribution 8 M€ Project costs 38 M€
Trières, Greece
Coordinator Motor Oil Group
Project Period 1 Jul 2023 – 30 Apr 2028
EU contribution 10 M€ Project costs 8 M€
NAHV, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia
Coordinator HOLDING SLOVENSKE ELEKTRARNE (HSE)
Project Period 01-09-2023 – 31-08-2029
EU contribution 25 M€ Project costs 344 M€
SH2AMROCK, Ireland
Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF GALWAY
Project Period 01-01-2024 – 31-12-2028
EU contribution 10 M€ Project costs 55 M€
Convey: Denmark, HRS 500t/a
Coordinator NORWEGIAN HYDROGEN AS, NO
Project Period 01-03-2024 – 28-02-2029
EU contribution 9 M€ Project costs 22 M€ Others
H2Talent, Portugal
Coordinator UNIVERSIDADE DE EVORA, PT
Project Period 01-03-2024 – 28-02-2029
EU contribution 9 M€ Project costs 26 M€
Hyceland, Iceland
Coordinator Environmental Resources Management Limited
Project Period 1 May 2025 – 31 Oct 2029
EU Contribution €8 997 502
HiWhyV, West Coast & High Coast, Sweden
Coordinator RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB
Project Period 1 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2031
EU Contribution €19 839 923
NORHyWAY, Mid-Norway, Norway
Coordinator FUTURE INNOVATIONS AS
Project Period 1 Mar 2026 – 28 Feb 2031
EU Contribution €17 874 586 total budget €963.3 million
H2B-IMPACT, State of Bremen, Germany
Coordinator Freie Hansestadt Bremen
Project Period 1 Feb 2026 – 31 Jan 2031
EU contribution €8 996 848 total budget Euro € 70 M