H2BLUE – Green hydrogen solutions for the blue economy

What is H2BLUE?

H2BLUE is a European interregional innovation project designed to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen technologies across the blue economy.

Led by PLOCAN and with a budget of approximately €7 million, the project will develop and validate innovative hydrogen solutions in real operational environments, with a particular focus on maritime and port activities, aquaculture and fisheries.

H2BLUE has been selected for funding under the Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a 2025 call – I3-2025-INV2a, financed by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).

The I3 Strand 2a programme supports interregional investments that integrate innovation actors from less developed and transition regions into European value chains. It helps bring mature innovations closer to scale-up and commercialisation by connecting regions with shared or complementary Smart Specialisation priorities.

H2BLUE will connect outermost regions, including the Canary Islands and the Azores, with other European innovation ecosystems with advanced capabilities in hydrogen technologies, research, demonstration and business development.

The consortium brings together:

• Public administrations and regional innovation agencies
• Research and technology organisations
• Hydrogen and blue economy specialists
• Maritime and port testing infrastructures
• Aquaculture and fisheries organisations
• Business support organisations and companies

This combination of expertise will allow H2BLUE to address the entire innovation chain, from technological development and adaptation to demonstration and market uptake. The project will also cover key aspects such as hydrogen safety, certification, regulatory compliance, economic feasibility and the development of sustainable business models.

A central component of H2BLUE will be the involvement of European SMEs in the development and validation of new solutions. Through Financial Support to Third Parties, the project expects to mobilise more than 50 SMEs and support their participation in demonstration and innovation activities related to hydrogen applications in the blue economy.

IDConsortium supported PLOCAN and the consortium throughout the proposal preparation process, contributing to the development of the project concept, consortium building, the design of the SME support programme, the definition of the work plan and budget, and the drafting and submission of the proposal.

The approval of H2BLUE demonstrates how cooperation between European regions can connect technological capabilities, testing infrastructures, companies and investment opportunities to support the decarbonisation of strategic blue economy sectors.