15 Renewable Hydrogen Projects Selected for EU Funding Under European Hydrogen Bank Auction
The European Commission has selected 15 large-scale renewable hydrogen production projects across five countries for public funding through the second auction round of the European Hydrogen Bank (EHB). These winning proposals come from an impressive consortium of developers, including:
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GALENA RENOVABLES 6, S.L.
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GALENA RENOVABLES 7, S.L.
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Koppö Energia Oy
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Viridi RE GmbH
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IGNIS HIDROGENO ALFA
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ARMONIA GREEN SEVILLA
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ARMONIA GREEN GALICIA, S.L.
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GREEN DEVCO ENERGY 6, S.L.U.
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Meridiam SAS
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H2-Hub Lubmin GmbH
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Elawan Energy
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Zeevonk Electrolyser
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NORWEGIAN HYDROGEN AS
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Gen2 Energy AS
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GREEN H AS
Together, these projects will receive a total of €992 million in EU Innovation Fund grants. Over the next decade, the selected initiatives are expected to produce up to 2.2 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen, avoiding more than 15 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The hydrogen will be used in hard-to-abate sectors such as transportation, chemicals, ammonia, and methanol production.
This funding aims to close the price gap between the cost of renewable hydrogen and market alternatives, thereby accelerating the uptake of clean hydrogen technologies and helping replace fossil fuels in key sectors. By scaling renewable hydrogen, the EU advances its climate, energy independence, and industrial decarbonisation goals.
Competitive Premiums to Support Market Deployment
Twelve of the selected projects will receive fixed premium subsidies ranging between €0.20 and €0.60 per kilogram of hydrogen produced. For the first time, the auction also included a dedicated €96.7 million budget for hydrogen producers serving the maritime sector, such as bunkering operations, where premium levels reached up to €1.88/kg.
Each project will receive between €8 million and €246 million over a 10-year period, contingent on certified renewable hydrogen production.
Complementary National Support
In parallel with the EU-level auction, Spain, Lithuania, and Austria are allocating up to €836 million in national funding to additional projects through the “Auctions-as-a-Service” mechanism. This tool allows EU Member States to co-finance qualifying projects that could not be awarded EU grants due to budgetary limits.
Next Steps
Selected developers will now enter the grant agreement preparation phase with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), with contracts expected to be signed by September or October 2025. Projects must reach financial close within 2.5 years of signing and begin production within five years. Subsidies will be distributed over a maximum ten-year period.
Looking Ahead: More Auctions and Market Tools Coming
As part of the Clean Industrial Deal, a third auction under the European Hydrogen Bank is expected by the end of 2025, with an estimated budget of €1 billion. Additionally, the Commission will soon launch the Hydrogen Mechanism, an online platform to connect hydrogen buyers and sellers and support the creation of a functioning European hydrogen market.
Background
The Innovation Fund, financed by the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), is one of the world’s largest funding programs for clean technologies, with an expected total budget of €40 billion (2020–2030). The European Hydrogen Bank is a key instrument to meet the REPowerEU target of producing 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen by 2030.
This second auction follows the 2023 pilot round, which awarded €700 million to support six hydrogen projects and now builds upon that momentum with broader geographic reach and sectoral focus—including for the maritime sector.
The selected projects position the EU as a global leader in renewable hydrogen innovation, with players such as Meridiam, Gen2 Energy, Koppö Energia, and Elawan Energy at the forefront of a cleaner energy future.
