Hydrogen is increasingly recognised as a key component of the future energy system. Among the different types of hydrogen, renewable hydrogen – often referred to as green hydrogen – is considered the most environmentally sustainable option.
Green hydrogen is produced using electricity from renewable energy sources, such as solar power, wind energy or hydropower. Unlike conventional hydrogen production methods that rely on fossil fuels, renewable hydrogen enables energy generation without producing carbon emissions.
How Green Hydrogen Is Produced
The most common method for producing renewable hydrogen is electrolysis. Electrolysis is a process in which water (H₂O) is split into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) using electricity.
When the electricity used in this process comes from renewable sources, the entire hydrogen production chain becomes climate-neutral, as no carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are generated during production.
This makes green hydrogen an important solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the global transition to cleaner energy systems.
Why Green Hydrogen Matters
One of the key advantages of green hydrogen is its ability to store and transport renewable energy. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are often variable and dependent on weather conditions. Hydrogen can help balance these fluctuations by storing surplus renewable electricity and releasing it when needed.
Green hydrogen can also support the decarbonisation of sectors that are difficult to electrify directly, including heavy industry, long-distance transport, aviation and maritime shipping.
By enabling clean energy storage, transport and use across multiple sectors, hydrogen can play an important role in building a more resilient and sustainable energy system.
Hydrogen Valleys: Integrating Hydrogen in Practice
To fully demonstrate the potential of hydrogen technologies, many regions across Europe are developing integrated hydrogen ecosystems known as Hydrogen Valleys.
A Hydrogen Valley connects hydrogen production, infrastructure, storage and real-world applications within one coordinated regional system. These ecosystems allow hydrogen technologies to be tested, demonstrated and scaled in real-life conditions.
EASTGATEH2V: Developing a Hydrogen Valley in the Košice Region
The EASTGATEH2V project is working to establish such a Hydrogen Valley in the Košice region of Slovakia. The project brings together partners from across Europe to build an integrated hydrogen ecosystem that links renewable hydrogen production with practical applications.
Within this system, hydrogen will support clean mobility, industrial applications and regional energy systems. By connecting renewable energy, hydrogen technologies and real-world use cases, the project aims to demonstrate how hydrogen can contribute to a low-carbon and sustainable future.
Green hydrogen therefore represents not only an innovative technology, but also a key building block of the future clean energy economy.