At the Krakow Regional Public Library, the transnational press conference of the European project PRHyUS ("Promoting Renewable Hydrogen Utilization for a Sustainable and Greener Europe") took place. The event, organised by the Association of Municipalities of the Polish ‘Energie Cités’ Network in collaboration with the Campania Region (leader), was attended by institutional representatives, experts in the energy sector and journalists from various European countries. The initiative is part of a three-day programme dedicated to the exchange of good practices, interregional workshops and study visits, with the aim of promoting the uptake of renewable hydrogen as a key vector for industrial decarbonisation and sustainable energy transition.
Objectives and context of the project
The PRHyUS project aims to support and disseminate the demand and practical application of advanced hydrogen technologies in the industrial, transport and residential sectors. The initiative aims to identify and overcome existing barriers to the deployment of renewable hydrogen, fostering collaboration between public bodies, research institutes and industry. In particular, the project aims to strengthen regional policy instruments, promote targeted investments and facilitate the creation of local hydrogen ecosystems.
Statements by the rapporteurs
During the press conference, representatives of the main partners of the project took part, offering an overview of the challenges and opportunities related to renewable hydrogen in Europe.
Among them, Maria Teresa Perreca (Campania Region, project leader) opened the meeting underlining the role of Campania as a leading region in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency. It highlighted how hydrogen is a strategic solution for the storage of clean energy and for reducing dependence on fossil fuels, thus contributing to energy independence and environmental sustainability. Campania, thanks to investments and public tenders, stands as a virtuous example in the promotion of innovative technologies and in the creation of synergies between public and private actors.
Camilla Gusperti (Eni Enrico Mattei Foundation, Italy) stressed the urgency of accelerating the adoption of hydrogen, especially in energy-intensive industrial sectors, which are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The European Union considers renewable hydrogen an essential pillar of the green transition, setting ambitious targets for 2030 and 2050. Gusperti explained the contribution of PRHyUS in the territorial and cost-benefit analysis, aimed at assessing environmental, social and economic impacts and identifying barriers and opportunities for the industrial uptake of hydrogen.
Mihai Iuga (Regional Development Agency Centru, Romania) presented the initiatives of Romania, with particular reference to the county of Mureș. Here, the project aims to reduce emissions by 45 percent.% by 2030, protecting jobs and ensuring the safety of the agri-food chain and fertilisers. However, Iuga highlighted the difficulties linked to the integration of new technologies, high costs and the lack of an adequate regulatory framework. Romania is in the process of launching transition plans and pilot projects for the use of green hydrogen, but needs to strengthen policies and infrastructure to support large-scale deployment.
Paweł Brusiło (Network Europe Direct, Poland) stressed that hydrogen is not a universal solution, but a key tool for decarbonising the hardest-to-electrify sectors. In Poland, concrete projects such as hydrogen buses and refuelling infrastructure are already active, as well as industrial initiatives using locally produced hydrogen. Brusiło stressed the importance of translating European ambitions into functioning regional ecosystems by 2030, through the creation of corridors, contracts and local revenues.
Key issues raised by the conference
During the conference, speakers and participants shared some key thoughts:
First, the centrality of industrial decarbonisation was reiterated. Hard-to-abate industries, such as steel, ceramics and cement production, are characterised by processes that require high temperatures and are difficult to electrify directly. In these sectors, renewable hydrogen is a strategic solution to replace fossil fuels and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The PRHyUS project aims to accompany these industries in the transition, providing analysis tools, policy support and promotion of targeted investments.
A second important aspect concerns sustainable mobility. In Poland, the introduction of hydrogen-powered buses and the deployment of the first refuelling infrastructure are concrete examples of how hydrogen can help decarbonise the public transport sector. These initiatives not only reduce the environmental impact of transport, but also serve as a replicable model for other European regions interested in developing clean mobility solutions.
The conference also highlighted the importance of developing local hydrogen ecosystems, i.e. integrated regional networks that include the production, storage and distribution of renewable hydrogen. The creation of these territorial infrastructures is essential to ensure the availability and accessibility of hydrogen to businesses and end-users, thus fostering the growth of a local supply chain and the generation of economic and employment value in the territories involved.
Finally, policy innovation was highlighted as a key element for the successful transition to renewable hydrogen. The PRHyUS project is committed to strengthening policy tools at regional and national level, in order to unlock new investments and foster wider adoption of hydrogen technologies. This process involves sharing good practices, updating regulatory frameworks and defining common strategies between the different European partners, with the aim of making hydrogen a structural component of the continental energy transition.
Project structure and partners
PRHyUS is a four-year project (May 2025 – July 2029), co-financed by the Interreg Europe programme with a budget of €1.85 million. It brings together nine partners from eight European countries and candidate states, flanked by associated political authorities. The objective is to improve seven regional policy instruments to support the uptake of hydrogen in the heavy industry, mobility and heating sectors.
The main partners include the Campania Region (Italy, lead), the Eni Enrico Mattei Foundation (Italy), the Association of Municipalities of the Polish ‘Energie Cités’ Network (Poland), the Free University of Brussels (Belgium), the City of Gradiška (Bosnia and Herzegovina), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (Serbia), Tenerrdis (France), the Centru Regional Development Agency (Romania) and Regionalmanagement Nordhessen GmbH (Germany). Associated authorities include the Province of Mantua, the City of Bydgoszcz, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the Spatial Planning Association Kassel Region.
Activities and expected results
The Krakow press conference is part of a three-day programme of staff exchanges, interregional workshops and study visits, including a visit to the Rybnik hydrogen refuelling station and the new Hydrogen Competence Centre of the University of Silesia. These activities aim to show how renewable hydrogen is already helping to transform local economies and strengthen regional skills.
During the PRHyUS project, it is planned to improve seven regional hydrogen-related policy instruments, support the creation of local hydrogen ecosystems, facilitate industrial decarbonisation, sustainable mobility and clean heating, and share results and good practices across Europe to foster replicability and long-term impact.
Conclusion
PRHyUS is a concrete example of how interregional cooperation can accelerate the clean energy transition by connecting knowledge, tools and strategies across national borders. By the end of the project, the partners commit to deliver concrete action plans and policy improvements, paving the way for a wider use of renewable hydrogen and a more sustainable future for Europe.
English (UK)