The official kickoff meeting took place on April 10 in Košice, Slovakia. Hydrogen Ukraine (H2U) is closely connected with the Ukrainian Hydrogen Council. While the council focuses on political advocacy, H2U is dedicated to implementing tangible projects.
The EastGate H2V project brings together 22 partners from seven European countries to build a shared hydrogen ecosystem. This includes H2U and the Ukrainian Hydrogen Council. The partners aim to establish key elements of the hydrogen value chain—renewable hydrogen production, distribution infrastructure, and applications across sectors such as mobility and industry. The project has received €9 million in funding from the EU’s Horizon program, through the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking public-private partnership.
Through its “H2U Zakarpattia Hydrogen Valley” initiative, Hydrogen Ukraine intends to establish large-scale hydrogen production in western Ukraine. The goal is to position the country as a significant player in the European hydrogen economy. The Zakarpattia region, with its renewable energy resources and strategic location, is expected to serve as a crucial source of clean hydrogen for both Ukraine and the EastGate H2V project.
Key aspects of the EastGate H2V project include:
- Infrastructure for hydrogen production and distribution for buses, ships, and aircraft
- Cross-border collaboration with Ukraine to scale up hydrogen production and build pipeline connections
- Research and studies on how to transfer the regional hydrogen ecosystem to other Central and Eastern European regions
- A comprehensive communication and outreach plan to raise public awareness and demonstrate hydrogen’s potential to local communities
Hydrogen Ukraine is also involved in the “Central European Hydrogen Corridor” project, which aims to connect Ukraine to the European Union via a hydrogen transport network.
