We are very proud to share that ENGIE, Equinor and CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) have signed the Innovation Fund Grant Agreement for the H2BE project in the EU Innovation Fund ‘General decarbonization large scale’-category. The grant agreement was signed by all parties in early March and a kick-off meeting was held at CINEA offices in Brussels on March 14th.
The Innovation Fund is one of the world’s largest funding programs for the deployment of net-zero and innovative technologies that aims to bring to market solutions that decarbonize European industry and support its transition to climate neutrality while fostering competitiveness. This fund is crucial to help businesses invest in clean energy and industry while boosting economic growth and creating future-proof jobs.
With this support from the Innovation Fund, the European Union recognizes the importance of low-carbon hydrogen to industry and projects. H2BE is an innovative and “first of a kind” low-carbon hydrogen plant. Due to its large size and affordable hydrogen, it can act as a kick-starter of a new low-carbon ecosystem, enabling industrial decarbonization at scale. The Innovation Fund recognition will be instrumental in accelerating the development of our low-carbon hydrogen production facility in Belgium, as well as the infrastructure development for both low-carbon and renewable hydrogen.
“Receiving this grant is a huge stamp of approval from the EU for H2BE and for low-carbon hydrogen as a key decarbonization tool for Flanders, Belgium, and Europe. This funding is a testament to our commitment to innovation and sustainability as well as a recognition of the high-quality work performed by our teams since the inception of the project. We are excited to continue to collaborate with Equinor to bring this visionary project to life.”
Mathieu Ablard, Project Director of ENGIE
“We are very excited to have signed the Innovation Fund Grant, and for what’s to come. H2BE’s low-carbon hydrogen can play a crucial role in taking Flanders to a net-zero future. This fund, together with the launch of the Clean Industrial Act, marks an important step from the EU towards implementing policies and regulations supporting affordable decarbonization technologies. We greatly value our partnership with ENGIE in developing this project, where the complementary nature of our two companies and cultures enables us to achieve more by working together.”
Helene Røsand, Project Director of Equinor
