Europe’s hydrogen sector receives a significant boost as the Clean Hydrogen Partnership extends its flagship support programme into early 2026. Fifteen hydrogen valleys across eleven countries have secured crucial development assistance under this expanded initiative. The programme represents a strategic shift from traditional grant funding toward practical project implementation and commercial viability. This extension signals Europe’s commitment to achieving its ambitious hydrogen infrastructure targets by decade’s end.
Fifteen valleys of hydrogen will provide total development assistance
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership has selected fifteen hydrogen valleys in eleven different countries for the specialized “Project Development Assistance” under the first call of the H2V Facility. These valleys encompass a variety of geographical areas, of which eight are EU member states, while three are Horizon Europe associated countries. The project development assistance for the projects will come from Roland Berger and Worley.
The selection method for the hydrogen valley schemes is designed for those that offer the best possibility of achieving the Final Investment Decision within a specific time period. All the shortlisted valleys possess unique characteristics; thus, they will require a custom-made assistance scheme. The initiative will assist in the de-risking of those regions that create an impediment to moving the hydrogen schemes forward.
A two-track strategy is suitable at varying levels of development
The project runs on dual tracks, namely PDA Light, which entails provision of support in respect of pre-feasibility for a period of six weeks in respect of early-stage projects, and PDA plus, which offers support in respect of feasibility. The type of support offered by the European Union in respect of the undertaking involved a paradigm shift from the traditional form of support in the form of grant schemes in respect of award of grants to more applicable support, which renders the undertaking investable.
Extension of the programme: Increasing the support for hydrogen is met
The H2V Facility has extended timelines for fulfillment of progressively increasing needs for support with regard to hydrogen valley matters in Europe. The PDA light program now has two cohorts; the initial cohort will begin operation on the 10th of November 2025, while the other will begin in January 2026. This is with regard to the ever-increasing demand for professional services with regard to hydrogen matters.
Nine schemes have been shortlisted for the PDA light stream, which includes schemes in the preliminary stage of development involving basic feasibility studies. Another more advanced schemes-based program was the PDA Plus schemes program, which involves schemes with full feasibility studies or schemes that have investment readiness. It allows schemes to be well-developed.
Aggressive goals drive the development of hydrogen valleys
The H2V Facility is operating as a five-year initiative in accordance with its aim of facilitating the commission’s vision for fifty operational or under-construction hydrogen valleys by 2030. The H2V Facility consists of three key dimensions:
- Project Development Assistance
- The creation of a Knowledge Centre for sharing best practices
- The upgrading of a platform for successful hydrogen valley implementation
Already, the second Call for Applications will be held in 2026, which shows a commitment to the growth of hydrogen valleys in the European Union. Success shall be measured based on the projects that managed to shift from the provision of development assistance to the final investment decision/construction stage. This was one of the issues of the past, where projects relating to hydrogen struggled to pass from the conceptual stage to implementation.
The hydrogen valleys project in the EU represents an important development in the European clean energy policies. The project assists in critical phases for the development of hydrogen and represents an important factor in eliminating the barriers to the achievement of a hydrogen economy. The project has a great impact on the development of the hydrogen economy in the European context of 2030.
