The H2CE Final Conference took place in Berlin on 25 March 2026 under the title “Strengthening the H2CE Hydrogen-Ready Regions Network.”
Hosted by the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing, the hybrid event brought together public authorities, research institutions, hydrogen experts and project partners from across central Europe.
Project results presented
H2CE presented its principal achievements:
- regional hydrogen strategies and planning approaches;
- tools supporting public authorities;
- GIS-based strategic decision support;
- regional pilot solutions;
- approaches for Regional H2 Competence Centres;
- the H2CE Collaboration Platform; and
- the Network of Hydrogen-Ready Regions.
From strategy to implementation
Keynote speaker Jorgo Chatzimarkakis highlighted Europe’s hydrogen potential and the need to accelerate practical implementation.
Discussions indicated that hydrogen was particularly relevant in sectors where direct electrification was difficult, including:
- energy-intensive industry;
- refineries; and
- fertiliser production.
Main lessons
Panel discussions identified several conditions for successful hydrogen deployment:
- Realistic applications: hydrogen needed to be directed towards uses where it offered clear value.
- Economic viability: projects required credible demand and sustainable business models.
- Coordinated infrastructure: production, transport, storage and consumption had to be planned together.
- Supportive regulation: clear and predictable rules were necessary for investment.
- Public acceptance: communication, education and citizen involvement helped build trust.
- Visible examples: pilot projects made regional strategies more tangible.
- Continued cooperation: regions benefited from exchanging experience and coordinating their approaches.
Long-term value
The conference marked the conclusion of H2CE implementation while shifting attention towards continued regional cooperation.
It confirmed that hydrogen could contribute to the energy transition in central Europe, but only where technology was combined with realistic planning, economic demand, institutional capacity and public support. The H2CE Network and Collaboration Platform provided structures for continuing this work after project closure.