In an interview for the German Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development’s INTERREG B blog, H2CE Lead Partner Coordinator Pedro Brosei explained the project’s value for Berlin-Brandenburg.
Brandenburg adopted a hydrogen strategy in 2021, after which several districts, towns and cities began examining their regional hydrogen potential. H2CE complemented this work by connecting regional planning activities with expertise from other parts of central Europe.
Regional applications
H2CE supported two complementary activities in Brandenburg:
- North-west Brandenburg developed a regional H2 action plan with support from the project.
- Lübben developed and tested an energy-cell model to examine hydrogen within an integrated regional energy system.
These activities helped regional stakeholders build expertise, connect different sectors involved in the energy transition and assess what hydrogen readiness meant in their specific territorial contexts.
Why transnational cooperation mattered
Hydrogen infrastructure involved spatial, economic and technical relationships that extended beyond administrative and national borders. European cooperation therefore helped the region:
- exchange experience on a rapidly evolving policy and technology landscape;
- compare regional planning methods;
- coordinate infrastructure and capacity development;
- connect public authorities with industry and other stakeholders; and
- transfer relevant approaches between participating regions.
The Joint Spatial Planning Department Berlin-Brandenburg shared H2CE results with stakeholders involved in planning and implementing the regional energy transition. The project also created links with wider cooperation structures, including the Scandria Alliance and cross-border cooperation with Poland.
The experience confirmed that hydrogen planning required coordination across territories, sectors and levels of government rather than isolated regional action.