EU approves state aid to Hy2tech

Pan-European technology innovation project is first hydrogen IPCEI to gain European Commission approval

The European Commission has approved state aid for Hy2tech, a €14bn ($14bn) hydrogen technology innovation project developed by 35 companies with support from 15 member state governments. Hy2tech is the first hydrogen sector proposal to be approved under the EU’s Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) scheme—which allows member states to pool state aid and cooperate in a way not allowed under the bloc’s usual state aid rules. Hy2tech comprises 41 individual projects spanning hydrogen production, fuel cells, storage, transportation, distribution and end-user applications. Companies involved include Germany’s Daimler Truck, French speciality chemicals company Arkema, Italian pow