This initiative, backed by a total budget of €640 million, aims to provide public subsidies to support the development of hydrogen technologies, including production, storage, and transportation.

In its third phase, the program targets a renewable and low-emission hydrogen production capacity of at least 315 megawatts (MW). These projects will help decrease dependence on fossil fuels, replace high-emission energy sources, and introduce cleaner alternatives in the transport sector, thereby significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide.

The planned investments are critical for decarbonizing challenging sectors such as industry and transport. They align with the updated Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) targets. By 2030, the industrial sector must achieve a minimum of 42% renewable hydrogen use, rising to 60% by 2035. For transport, the goals include a 5.5% share of advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin, with at least 1% coming from Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO).

Public subsidies of up to €2 million per 1 MW of capacity will support RFNBO hydrogen production facilities, covering both production installations and related infrastructure, such as renewable energy sources. To qualify, facilities must have a minimum capacity of 20 MW.

The competitive application process is scheduled to launch by the end of the year, with agreements for selected projects expected to be finalized by June 2025.