EASTGATEH2V – a pioneering European project to build a fully integrated Hydrogen Valley – officially kicked off on 10. April 2025, in Košice, Slovakia. It brings together 22 partners from 7 European countries to turn Košice into a regional leader in green hydrogen technology. Coordinated by the Košice Self-Governing Region, the project has received €9 million from Clean hydrogen partnership under Horizon Europe programme. PEDAL Consulting will manage the communication and dissemination activities as well as facilitate exploitation planning to ensure long-term project benefits.
This unique initiative marks a historic first for the country: Slovakia’s first-ever hydrogen valley, powered by local renewable energy and designed to serve as a blueprint for clean energy transition across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
A Game-Changer for Green Energy in the Region
EASTGATEH2V will connect all key parts of the hydrogen value chain — from production and storage to transport and end-use — in a single, integrated ecosystem. It will deploy 4 MW of electrolyser capacity (2 MW alkaline, 2 MW PEM), producing green hydrogen from renewable energy sources.
The clean hydrogen will power:
The project also includes studies to transform existing natural gas pipelines into hydrogen-ready infrastructure and assess cross-border scaling, especially with neighbouring Ukraine.
Supporting Education, Innovation and Energy Independence
By enabling local renewable hydrogen production, the project will help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and strengthen the region’s energy self-sufficiency.
But its ambition goes beyond technology. EASTGATEH2V will:
Two-Phase Deployment Plan
The project is structured in two stages:
Feasibility studies will also explore how to repurpose existing gas pipelines for hydrogen transport — a key step in Slovakia’s decarbonisation roadmap.
A Model for Europe’s Hydrogen Future
EASTGATEH2V is more than a regional project — it is designed to be replicated across Europe. With its cross-sector, cross-border scope and emphasis on public engagement, it sets a new standard for how hydrogen valleys can power sustainable change.
We invite you to join us on the journey toward a greener, hydrogen-powered future — starting in Košice!
Funded by the European Union under the grant agreement No. 101192335. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only, and do not reflect those of the European Union or Clean Hydrogen Partnership. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
