Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe. It has the chemical symbol H and atomic number 1, making it the simplest element in the periodic table. Despite its simplicity, hydrogen plays a fundamental role in many natural processes and is considered one of the key building blocks of matter.
On Earth, hydrogen rarely occurs in its pure form. Instead, it is most commonly found in chemical compounds, such as water (H₂O) or hydrocarbons. In recent years, hydrogen has gained increasing attention as a clean energy carrier that can support the transition toward more sustainable energy systems.
Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier
Hydrogen is not a primary energy source like solar or wind energy. Instead, it functions as an energy carrier, meaning it can store and transport energy produced from other sources.
When hydrogen is used in technologies such as fuel cells, it generates electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen. The only by-products of this process are water and heat, which means that hydrogen can provide energy without producing harmful emissions at the point of use.
This characteristic makes hydrogen a promising solution for sectors that are difficult to decarbonise, including heavy industry, transport, and energy storage.
Hydrogen in Future Energy Systems
Hydrogen can be produced in several ways. One of the most sustainable approaches is green hydrogen, which is generated using renewable electricity through a process called electrolysis. In this process, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity from renewable sources such as solar or wind power.
Once produced, hydrogen can be stored, transported and used across multiple sectors. It can power vehicles, buses, industrial processes, and even aviation technologies, while also helping to balance energy systems by storing surplus renewable electricity.
The Role of Hydrogen Valleys
To fully unlock the potential of hydrogen, integrated regional ecosystems are needed. This concept is known as a Hydrogen Valley.
A Hydrogen Valley connects hydrogen production, distribution infrastructure and multiple end uses within one coordinated system. By bringing together industry, transport, research institutions and public authorities, Hydrogen Valleys help demonstrate how hydrogen technologies can work in real-life conditions.
EASTGATEH2V: Building a Hydrogen Valley in the Košice Region
The EASTGATEH2V project aims to develop such a hydrogen ecosystem in the Košice region of Slovakia. The project brings together partners from across Europe to create a fully integrated system linking hydrogen production, storage, distribution and practical applications.
Within this Hydrogen Valley, hydrogen will be used in several sectors, including public transport, industry and innovative mobility solutions. The project will also support research, digitalisation and cross-border cooperation in the field of hydrogen technologies.
By demonstrating how hydrogen can be produced and used within a regional system, EASTGATEH2V contributes to Europe’s broader goals of decarbonisation, clean energy deployment and technological innovation.
Hydrogen therefore represents not only a scientific element, but also a key component of the future energy landscape.