H2BLUE promotes the use of green hydrogen in the European blue economy

We are pleased to announce that H2BLUE has been selected to receive funding under the I3-2025-INV2a call, managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Interregional innovation to decarbonise the maritime sector

The Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument supports innovation projects jointly developed by European regions. Under its Strand 2a, it promotes the integration of less developed and transition regions into European value chains, supporting the demonstration, scale-up and market uptake of innovative solutions.

Coordinated by PLOCAN and with a budget of nearly EUR 7 million, H2BLUE aims to accelerate the uptake of green hydrogen in key blue economy activities. The project will develop and validate solutions under real-life conditions, with a particular focus on maritime and port environments, support vessels, fishing activities and aquaculture farms.

A consortium connected to the real challenges of the blue economy

H2BLUE will connect outermost regions, such as the Canary Islands and the Azores, with other European ecosystems that have advanced capabilities in hydrogen, innovation and technological development. The consortium brings together public authorities, technology and research centres, testing infrastructures, business organisations and specialised companies.

This combination will cover the full innovation chain: from technology development and adaptation to demonstration in real-life environments. The project will also address key aspects for future uptake, including safety, certification, regulation, economic viability and commercialisation.

H2BLUE will pay particular attention to the participation of European SMEs. Through cascade funding mechanisms, the project expects to mobilise more than 50 SMEs and facilitate their participation in demonstration projects related to the application of green hydrogen in the blue economy.

IDConsortium’s role

IDConsortium has supported PLOCAN and the whole consortium throughout the proposal preparation process, contributing to the definition of the concept, the configuration of the consortium, the design of the SME support programme, the structuring of the work plan and budget, and the writing and submission of H2BLUE.

For the IDConsortium team, this result is a great source of satisfaction. H2BLUE shows how interregional cooperation can connect technological capabilities, infrastructures, companies and investments to advance the decarbonisation of strategic sectors and generate new economic opportunities in the participating territories.

We would like to thank PLOCAN and all consortium partners for their trust, commitment and excellent work during the preparation of H2BLUE.

Congratulations to the whole consortium! A new stage now begins to turn H2BLUE into real results for the regions, companies and the European blue economy.