The European Commission has greenlit the fourth wave of Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) to support the hydrogen value chain. This IPCEI, known as Hy2Move, focuses on hydrogen mobility and marks the end of the Hydrogen IPCEI programme first launched back in 2019. 

Previous waves include Hy2Tech (July 15, 2022), Hy2Use (September 21, 2023), and Hy2Infra (February 15, 2024). Together, these initiatives aim to raise over €43 billion from a blend of public and private funds, supporting more than 120 projects involving nearly 100 European companies. 

Hydrogen Europe welcomes this latest announcement as it represents another significant commitment to scaling up hydrogen capabilities that will facilitate the decarbonisation of the mobility sector. 

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe, commented: “We are delighted to see the successful final chapter of the hydrogen IPCEIs. It is now crucial that Member States make the necessary resources available for all waves and establish the right conditions for these projects to be delivered as soon as possible.”

Hy2Move will see Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Spain collectively inject up to €1.4 billion in public funding from various national sources. This significant public investment is expected to attract at least €3.3 billion in private capital, resulting in a total financial effort of €4.7 billion. 

Eleven companies, with the support of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will focus on 13 projects spanning several key segments: 

• Development of mobility and transport applications: Integrating hydrogen technologies into various transport modes (road, maritime, aviation), including fuel cell vehicle platforms for buses and trucks;
• High-performance fuel cell technologies: Generating sufficient power to propel ships and locomotives using hydrogen;
• Next-generation on-board storage solutions: Creating lightweight, robust hydrogen tanks for aircraft to ensure safety and efficiency;
• Technologies for hydrogen production for mobility: Supplying hydrogen refuelling stations on-site with pressurized, 99.99% pure fuel-cell-grade hydrogen.

Moving forward, Member States must now allocate and disburse the financial resources for all projects. Many projects from the previous waves have yet to receive their funding. Hydrogen Europe calls for the IPCEI mechanism to be renewed and broadened in scope, with its processes streamlined, making it a robust instrument with which, alongside other state aid instruments across Member States, the next Commission may help support its climate and competitiveness goals.

For more information:

• Commission Hy2Move press release: Commission approves up to €1.4 billion of State aid by seven Member States for the fourth Important Project of Common European Interest in the hydrogen value chain
• Hy2Tech
• Hy2Use
• Hy2Infra
• Hy2Move