Key Solutions for Advancing Hydrogen the Lubelskie Region

In pursuit of ambitious goals related to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, EU countries are increasingly looking towards the hydrogen market. All in the belief that technologies for producing green hydrogen and hydrogen investments will be a key element of the energy transition of the European Union, as well as actions aimed at climate protection.

In early 2025, Lubelskie Voivodeship decided to map the challenges standing in the way of an increase in hydrogen use in the region as well as discuss possible ways to overcome these barriers. Lubelskie Voivodeship gathered universities, environmental protection institutions, cities and municipalities from the region, public transport, energy clusters, and companies to partake in the discussion.

After an identification of the challenges for the future development of the hydrogen market in the Lubelskie region, the following solutions were presented. These conclusions may also be relevant to other EU regions.

• Successfully launching the hydrogen market requires large-scale consumer stimulation through clear legislation, investment strategies, education as well as EU, national, and/or regional funding programs and financial support.
• National legislation and regulations on electrolyser construction can accelerate hydrogen technology investments and refueling infrastructure.
• Addressing the shortage of hydrogen specialists can be achieved through university partnerships and expert collaboration.
• Social resistance to renewable energy and hydrogen projects calls for educational campaigns and financial incentives.
• Bureaucratic barriers due to inexperienced municipal officials should be addressed through training and awareness initiatives.
• Faster renewable energy and hydrogen investments in EU regions require regional cooperation, land databases, and grid integration.
• Despite high costs, hydrogen prices are expected to decline over time, similar to RES investments.

To further maximize success in green hydrogen production, a financial and legislative support is an essential need for exchange of specialist knowledge, inspiration and “know-how”. Being part of the UNIFHY project can provide a solid base of Good Practices for learning from more advanced EU regions, which have already tested and refined their solutions.

Is your region experiencing similar challenges in the area of hydrogen technologies or logistics? Or maybe you already have better solutions?