Winners of €1 billion European Hydrogen Bank auction revealed, with three maritime projects on the list

European Commission names winners of €1 billion European Hydrogen Bank auction, with three maritime projects included
May 21, 2025, by HABIBIC AVERAGE

The European Commission has revealed the recipients of the latest European Hydrogen Bank (EHB) auction, entitling them to almost €1 billion in funding for generating renewable hydrogen, particularly for projects in the maritime sector.
The second EHB auction, initiated in December 2024 and concluded on February 20, 2025, garnered 61 project proposals from 11 different countries, with eight proposals specifically focusing on hydrogen production for maritime use.
On May 20, the Commission declared the selection of 15 projects across the European Economic Area (EEA) that will collectively receive €992 million from the Innovation Fund sourced through the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS).
Spread out among five countries, these chosen initiatives aim to produce around 2.2 million tons of renewable hydrogen over the next decade for various sectors like transportation, chemistry, methanol, and ammonia production, thereby preventing over 15 million tons of CO2 emissions.
The financial support granted to the winners will help offset the cost disparity between production expenses and market prices, facilitating the adoption of cleaner energy sources, clarified the EC.
Individual subsidies for the 15 projects range from €8 million to €246 million over a maximum period of ten years.
This auction marked the first instance of a separate allocation for hydrogen producers serving the maritime industry, which utilize the hydrogen produced for bunkering operations.
Consequently, three proposals securing €96.7 million in grants were chosen, all located in Norway:

RjukanH2 by Norwegian Hydrogen,
Gen2-LH2 by Gen2Energy, and
HammerfestH2 by Green H.

Moreover, Spain, Lithuania, and Austria are earmarking up to €836 million in domestic financing for local projects under the ‘Auctions-as-a-Service’ initiative, enabling Member States to identify and support qualifying projects that align with auction standards but cannot be covered by the Innovation Fund due to budget constraints.
The selected projects from the second EHB auction will now proceed to negotiate grant agreements with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), with agreements anticipated to be finalized by September/October 2025.
These projects are mandated to secure financial backing within two and a half years of signing and commence renewable hydrogen production within five years. They will receive a fixed premium subsidy for a maximum of ten years for verified and certified renewable hydrogen production.
Following the Clean Industrial Deal, a third European Hydrogen Bank auction is slated for late 2025 with a budget allocation of up to €1 billion.
Additionally, the Commission plans to introduce the Hydrogen Mechanism under the European Hydrogen Bank to facilitate interactions between buyers and sellers, fostering collaboration and information sharing within the market.