How can clean hydrogen help transform industry, transport and energy systems? The EASTGATEH2V project is working to answer this question by developing an integrated hydrogen ecosystem in the Košice region, connecting renewable hydrogen production with practical applications in mobility and industry.
The transition to a climate-neutral economy requires innovative technologies, cross-sector collaboration and new approaches to energy production and consumption. Hydrogen can play an important role in this transformation, particularly in applications where reducing emissions presents significant challenges.
The EASTGATEH2V project aims to establish Slovakia’s first fully integrated Hydrogen Valley, bringing together hydrogen production, distribution infrastructure and end-use applications across the Košice region. The initiative demonstrates how hydrogen technologies can support industrial decarbonisation, cleaner transport, regional innovation and greater energy security.
Connecting hydrogen production with real-world applications
At the heart of EASTGATEH2V is the development of 4 MW of electrolyser capacity, combining two technologies: a 2 MW alkaline electrolyser and a 2 MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser.
The hydrogen produced will be distributed to four deployment sites across the region, connecting production with practical applications in several sectors. These include hydrogen-powered buses, a municipal waste collection vehicle, a tourist boat and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aviation technologies, alongside industrial applications requiring hydrogen.
By integrating these different uses into one regional ecosystem, the project seeks to demonstrate how hydrogen can contribute to the decarbonisation of transport and industry while strengthening links between energy infrastructure and regional economic development.
Driving innovation and regional development
EASTGATEH2V extends beyond technology demonstrations. It also focuses on the long-term development of a hydrogen economy in Eastern Slovakia, supporting local expertise, industrial innovation and opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
The project will explore how the regional hydrogen ecosystem can be expanded, including the potential development of hydrogen pipeline infrastructure and increased supplies of renewable hydrogen from neighbouring Ukraine. These activities are connected to the wider ambition of the Central European Hydrogen Corridor, which aims to link hydrogen supply from Ukraine through Slovakia and the Czech Republic to Germany.
The project also places emphasis on public awareness, stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing, helping other regions understand the opportunities and challenges associated with hydrogen technologies.
European cooperation for a cleaner energy future
EASTGATEH2V is part of the European effort to accelerate the adoption of clean hydrogen and support the transition towards a climate-neutral economy. By combining infrastructure development, industrial applications and cross-border cooperation, the project aims to provide a model that can be adapted by other regions in Central and Eastern Europe.
The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Clean Hydrogen Partnership under the Horizon Europe programme. It runs from April 2025 to March 2031, with an EU contribution of approximately €9 million.
Discover EASTGATEH2V
Watch the project’s presentation video to learn more about the vision behind EASTGATEH2V, its innovative hydrogen technologies and its contribution to the future of sustainable industry and mobility in Slovakia.
Learn more about the project: www.eastgateh2v.eu
EASTGATEH2V demonstrates how collaboration between industry, research, public authorities and technology providers can help turn the potential of clean hydrogen into practical solutions for a more sustainable and resilient European economy.
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