EASTGATEH2V is an EU-funded project under the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. The project consortium aims to create the Slovakia’s first-ever hydrogen valley, powered by local renewable energy. Moreover, it is designed to serve as a blueprint for clean energy transition across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Under the initiative, all key elements of the hydrogen (H₂) value chain—production, distribution, and end-use—will be connected across mobility and industry sectors.

Main objectives

• Establish a regional hydrogen ecosystem as a model for EU-wide adoption.
• Enable cross-sector H₂ deployment with high visibility to communities.
• Scale up the Košice H₂ Valley with international connections (especially Ukraine).
• Address the socio-economic and public perception challenges of hydrogen technology.
• Create long-term education and training programs to upskill the future hydrogen workforce.

Key activities

• Deploy 4 MW of electrolyzer capacity (2 MW alkaline, 2 MW PEM).
• Serve diverse applications: buses, garbage trucks, a hydrogen-powered touristic boat, VTOL aircraft (drones), and industrial users.
• Ensure operational interconnectivity with regional transport and energy systems.
• Conduct feasibility studies for scaling up hydrogen infrastructure in Slovakia and Ukraine, including cross-border pipelines.

The project will address the following areas

• Technology Deployment
  Installation of electrolysers, distribution trailers, and H₂-powered vehicles.
• Public Engagement
  Awareness campaigns and regional information dissemination.
• Training & Education
  Programs for engineers and students through collaboration with universities (e.g. Technical University of Košice).
• EU & National Outreach
  Communication through social media, workshops, policy roundtables, and webinars.
• Policy & Scale-up Studies
  Planning for transnational hydrogen pipeline infrastructure, especially with Ukraine.

Project consortium

The consortium includes 22 partners from Slovakia, Ukraine, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The project is coordinated by Košice Self-Governing Region.

PEDAL Consulting plays a pivotal role in:

• Developing and executing the Communication & Dissemination Plan.
• Creating visual branding, managing the project website and social media.
• Coordinating national and EU-wide visibility campaigns.
• Facilitating exploitation planning to ensure long-term project benefits.
• Organizing events like EU policy roundtables, webinars, and stakeholder workshops.