Stakeholders in Cyprus met to be acquainted with Green Hydra
The first meeting of the regional stakeholder group in Cyprus has been held on13th of December 2024in Nicosia, Latsia Municipality Hall
The meeting began with an introduction to the Green Hydra project. The meeting served as the first regional stakeholder engagement in Latsia, Nicosia, bringing together all mayors of the Nicosia region.
ANEL, a key partner in the project, presented its role in driving the initiative forward. ANEL's primary responsibility includes coordinating the regional stakeholders, providing technical expertise on green hydrogen adoption and ensuring the alignment of local policies with the project's objectives. ANEL emphasized its commitment to facilitating collaboration between public authorities, SMEs and other stakeholders to create a favorable environment for green hydrogen initiatives.
A comprehensive state-of-play analysis was presented, which assessed the status of the hydrogen ecosystem in the region. Key findings highlighted the current state of the hydrogen value chain, including the supply of renewable energy for hydrogen production, infrastructure availability and market readiness. The analysis identified several barriers to the adoption of green hydrogen by SMEs, such as high investment costs, lack of awareness and insufficient policy incentives. A detailed review of existing policies also revealed gaps in the support structures for SMEs looking to engage with green hydrogen technology.
The meeting also included a summary of the first interregional meeting in Ravenna, where representatives from partner countries discussed their experiences with green hydrogen projects. The discussions in Ravenna highlighted successful initiatives, challenges faced in different regions and strategies for overcoming those barriers. Lessons learned from the meeting provided valuable insights into the implementation of green hydrogen policies at the regional level and how these can be adapted to the Cyprus context.
Partner countries shared good practices related to green hydrogen adoption in SMEs, focusing on successful policy frameworks, innovative business models, and technological solutions. These practices were presented as potential solutions that could be applied in the region. A discussion followed on the applicability of these practices, considering local conditions, regulatory environments and economic factors. Stakeholders were encouraged to explore these practices as models for enhancing the regional ecosystem.
The Local Stakeholder Group was recognized as playing a critical role in ensuring the successful implementation of the project. The importance of local leadership in supporting green hydrogen initiatives and overcoming regional barriers was emphasized.
The meeting concluded with a summary of next steps in the project. This includes a planned visit to Sofia, where additional workshops and meetings will take place to explore further opportunities for regional cooperation and policy development. Stakeholders were encouraged to continue collaboration and keep momentum on the project’s goals.
The first regional stakeholders meeting under the Green Hydra project successfully brought together local authority representatives and ANEL to discuss the current status of the hydrogen ecosystem and explore pathways for greater SME engagement. The meeting provided a solid foundation for future collaboration and participants left the meeting with a clear understanding of the project’s objectives, their roles and the next steps in moving forward with the initiative.