Košice: The EastGateH2V hydrogen valley project funded by the EU has officially started

Košice – The project for building a hydrogen valley in the Košice region – EastGateH2V – is officially open. The Košice Self-Governing Region (KSK) as its coordinator welcomed most of the involved partners in Košice, with whom it is joining forces. All 22 partners from seven European countries will gradually sign a grant agreement for funding from the European Commission (EC) through the Horizon Europe program by the end of April, KSK informed on Thursday.

The region, together with partners from Slovakia and abroad, has secured nine million euros for the project. It has become a successful applicant in the call announced by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (Clean Hydrogen JU) within the EU’s Horizon Europe scientific program.

“The Košice Self-Governing Region is definitely on the map of leaders in hydrogen technologies in Central and Eastern Europe. The next six years will involve coordination and collaboration with key players in the fields of energy, transport, and industry from Slovakia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Slovenia, Spain, and Germany. It is rather rare for a self-government to take on the role of coordinator in such projects, so we take this mission seriously,” said KSK Chairman Rastislav Trnka. According to him, the main topic of the introductory meeting in Košice was the schedule of upcoming activities of the individual partners.

The project aims to create a sustainable ecosystem that includes hydrogen production, distribution, and consumption in various forms in bus, maritime, and air transport. KSK stated that green hydrogen will be produced using electricity generated from renewable sources.

Antonio Aguilo, the coordinator of the team in the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, pointed out that EastGateH2V, as the first hydrogen valley in Slovakia, represents a significant milestone in advancing the strategy for decarbonizing European industry, transport, and energy. “We are particularly pleased with the project’s vision to expand the creation of cross-border hydrogen corridors with neighboring countries, thus laying the foundations for a truly interconnected European hydrogen economy,” he stated.

Thanks to the EastGateH2V project, the Košice region will be supplied with the produced hydrogen for regional hydrogen buses. By mid-2027, an electrolyzer is expected to be launched, which will ensure an annual production of 170 tons of green hydrogen. This will be sufficient for the annual consumption of ten hydrogen buses in the region, a hydrogen boat, and a transport hydrogen drone. (April 10)

“The Košice Self-Governing Region is definitely on the map of leaders in hydrogen technologies in Central and Eastern Europe. The next six years will involve coordination and collaboration with key players in the fields of energy, transport, and industry from Slovakia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Slovenia, Spain, and Germany.” Rastislav Trnka