Today, existing information and support mechanisms are largely tailored to the needs and perspectives of project developers and industry actors, while public authorities are often regarded merely as passive enablers or regulatory frameworks. H2CE takes a different approach by recognising the expertise and authority of public administrations as a crucial lever for actively driving the transition.
The project aims to empower public authorities and administrations in Central Europe (CE) to proactively and sustainably integrate hydrogen into regional planning and development. This empowerment is expected to accelerate the ramp-up of hydrogen infrastructure and enable a more efficient allocation of public funds.
One of the central results of H2CE is the development and implementation of mechanisms to support regional decision-makers in steering the hydrogen-based energy transition. These include the initiation of a cross-regional and transnational network of H2-ready regions and the creation of a digital collaboration platform.
In this context, Work Package 2 (WP2) focuses on increasing the understanding of challenges, potentials, and solutions for cross-regional and cross-sectoral energy system transitions among energy utilities, public authorities, planning departments, and regional SMEs across all H2CE partner regions.
More specifically, Deliverable 2.1.1 presents the results of testing a GIS-based strategic decision support tool, developed for the regions of Veneto and Styria within the framework of the H2CE project. This tool offers a data-driven approach to hydrogen infrastructure planning, providing regional decision-makers with a strategic platform to assess hydrogen production, demand, and distribution across multiple territorial levels.
The H2CE partnership developed and tested this strategic decision support tool, which combines GIS data and energy modelling to support public authorities in H2-ready regions. The tool was co-designed and tested by partners from Styria, the Veneto Region, and Lübben, and has been integrated into the H2CE collaboration platform.