H2CE addressed the challenge of integrating hydrogen solutions and renewable energy into regional energy transitions across central Europe. While existing hydrogen support often focused on industry and project developers, H2CE placed public authorities and regional administrations at the centre of the transition, recognising their role in energy, infrastructure and regional planning. The project empowered public authorities to integrate hydrogen proactively and sustainably into regional planning and development. Through transnational cooperation, partners developed and tested strategies, planning tools, support mechanisms and capacity-building approaches that helped regions prepare for hydrogen deployment and move from strategic ambitions towards implementation. H2CE resulted in practical mechanisms supporting regional decision-makers, a transnational network of H2-ready regions and the H2CE Collaboration Platform. The project’s experience was consolidated into two main solutions – the Handbook for Strategic Decision-Making and the concept of Regional H2 Competence Centres – providing transferable approaches that can continue to support hydrogen-ready regional development beyond the project lifetime.