Facing the ongoing energy transition and the decarbonization of the European economy, green hydrogen is becoming one of the most significant topics of debate at the EU, national, and local levels, particularly in the context of sectors with limited low-carbon alternatives.
To engage in this discussion, on June 19, 2026, the Association of Municipalities Polish Network "Energie Cités" organized a webinar titled "Green Hydrogen in Europe: policies, good practices and territorial perspectives" as part of the PRHyUS project. The event brought together over 100 representatives of local governments, universities, research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and industry representatives
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The webinar was opened by Izabela Kuśnierz from the Association of Municipalities Polish Network "Energie Cités," who welcomed the participants and outlined the objectives of the PRHyUS project as well as the thematic scope of the meeting. Next, Ander Martinez Alonso from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) discussed the European Union's hydrogen policy framework, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that green hydrogen presents for regions and municipalities in the energy transition process. The speaker emphasized that the success of hydrogen at the local level depends on its integration into an integrated energy system involving committed end-users, which serves as the foundation for hydrogen valleys. Following this, Alfonso Bonavita from the Campania Region in Italy presented how the PRHyUS project supports the development of green hydrogen in Europe, discussing the project's goals, its approach based on territorial cooperation, current activities, and planned outcomes.
A pivotal part of the meeting was the best practices session, which showcased a series of established hydrogen initiatives. Dr. Paweł Brusiło from the Wrocław University of Economics and Business illustrated Rybnik’s transformation from a traditional coal-mining hub into a modern hydrogen district. He highlighted the city’s key milestones, including the acquisition of 20 hydrogen-powered buses, the construction of the region's first hydrogen refueling station, and ambitious plans to produce hydrogen from biogas sourced at a local wastewater treatment plant
Following this, Cecilia Pozzo from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in France presented IMAGHyNE, a large-scale hydrogen valley project. She outlined the initiative’s goal of decarbonizing local industry and mobility, while detailing significant achievements such as the launch of 11 hydrogen refueling stations, the deployment of buses in public transport, and the installation of a 10 MW electrolyzer. The industry perspective on hydrogen technologies was then provided by Nick Dippel of sera GmbH. The session concluded with a presentation by Angelo Moreno from STRESS scarl, who introduced one of the first nearly zero-emission buildings located in Benevento, Italy. The facility serves as a "technological gym" for hydrogen solutions in construction, allowing for the evaluation of their efficiency under real-world operating conditions.
Following the presentations, Francesca Pea from Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) introduced specialized tools for advancing hydrogen policy, specifically focusing on Socio-Territorial Analysis (STA) and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA). She emphasized that these instruments are designed to map industrial and infrastructural potential while facilitating informed investment decision-making.
The presentations were followed by a Q&A session, which sparked an in-depth discussion on the topics addressed. The webinar concluded with closing remarks from Izabela Kuśnierz, who outlined future activities within the PRHyUS project and highlighted opportunities for collaboration and engagement for interested organisations.
Thank you very much for participating in the event!
