Until today, two IPCEIs in the hydrogen value chain have been launched. The two IPCEIs include 59 companies in 16 Member States and Norway including up to €10,6 billion state aid which is expected to unlock more than €15,8 billion of additional private investment.
First hydrogen IPCEI – IPCEI Hy2Tech (Hydrogen Technology)
On 15 July 2022, the European Commission approved the first IPCEI in the field of hydrogen (Hy2Tech). A total of 35 companies from fifteen member states (Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain) are participating in this project.
The IPCEI will cover a wide part of the hydrogen technology value chain, including (i) the generation of hydrogen, (ii) fuel cells, (iii) storage, transportation and distribution of hydrogen, and (iv) end-user applications, in particular in the mobility sector. It is expected to contribute to the development of important technological breakthroughs, including new highly efficient electrode materials, more performant fuel cells, innovative transport technologies, among which first time roll out hydrogen mobility ones. The IPCEI is expected to create approximately 20.000 direct jobs.
The fifteen Member States will provide up to €5.4 billion in public funding in the coming years, which is expected to unlock an additional €9 billion in private investments.
Second hydrogen IPCEI – IPCEI Hy2Use (Hydrogen Industry)
On 21 September 2022, the European Commission approved IPCEI Hy2Use as the second IPCEI in the field of hydrogen. A total of 29 companies from thirteen member states (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden), and Norway are participating in this project.
IPCEI Hy2Use will cover a wide part of the hydrogen value chain by supporting (i) the construction of hydrogen-related infrastructure, notably large-scale electrolysers and transport infrastructure, for the production, storage and transport of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen; and (ii) the development of innovative and more sustainable technologies for the integration of hydrogen into the industrial processes of multiple sectors, especially those that are more challenging to decarbonise, such as steel, cement and glass. The IPCEI is expected to boost the supply of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, thereby reducing dependency on the supply of natural gas.
The thirteen Member States will provide up to €5.2 billion in public funding in the coming years, which is expected to unlock an additional €7 billion in private investments.