Two important developments in the European hydrogen ecosystem show that hydrogen valleys are no longer only a strategic vision, but real investment and infrastructure projects. In June 2026, the FLHyPorts project was launched in Flanders, connecting the three main Flemish ports into Belgium’s first Hydrogen Valley. Almost at the same time, the Luxembourg Hydrogen Valley — LuxHyVal — reached a key milestone with the final investment decision to move into the implementation phase.
Both projects are supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and are being developed within the framework of Europe’s efforts to decarbonise industry, transport, logistics, and energy systems. They are a clear example of how integrated hydrogen ecosystems can bring together production, infrastructure, demand, training, and research expertise.
FLHyPorts: Belgium’s first Hydrogen Valley
On 11 June, the FLHyPorts consortium officially launched the project at the iconic Port House in Antwerp. FLHyPorts stands for Flanders Hydrogen Ports Valley and aims to establish Belgium’s first Hydrogen Valley by connecting hydrogen production, distribution, and end-use applications across the Flemish port ecosystems.
At the heart of the project is Hyoffwind — a 25 MW electrolysis facility for the production of renewable hydrogen, currently being developed by Virya Energy, Messer Benelux, and HyoffGreen. The facility is expected to produce RFNBO-compliant renewable hydrogen for mobility and industrial applications.
The project will demonstrate how hydrogen can contribute to the decarbonisation of logistics, port operations, inland shipping, industrial processes, and mobility. At the same time, FLHyPorts will provide flexibility services to both the electricity and gas grids.
The three main Flemish ports — Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Haven Oostende, and North Sea Port — have a central role in the production, distribution, and use of hydrogen. The project also involves industrial partners such as Virya Energy, Messer Benelux, VoltH2, PSA Europe & PSA Antwerp, Boluda Towage, Kalmar, Hyster-Yale, and HTS Intermodaal, as well as scientific and expert partners, including Universiteit Antwerpen, Cenex, and Fluxys.
By 2030, FLHyPorts has set specific targets: more than 1,800 tonnes of annual green hydrogen consumption, the development of key European hydrogen technologies to TRL 8 — a level at which the technology has already been demonstrated in real-life conditions and is close to market deployment. The facility is expected to produce renewable hydrogen compliant with the European requirements for RFNBO — renewable fuels of non-biological origin, produced with renewable electricity and demonstrable traceability.
Luxembourg accelerates the development of its Hydrogen Valley
The Luxembourg Hydrogen Valley — LuxHyVal — is also marking significant progress. The project was launched in 2024 with a clear objective: to decarbonise Luxembourg’s industrial hydrogen consumption by producing green hydrogen using electricity from 100% renewable sources.
Two years later, the consortium of 17 partners, coordinated by the University of Luxembourg, reached an important milestone. Energy provider Enovos announced the final investment decision, allowing the project to enter the implementation phase. The next stage will include engineering and construction preparation, with building works planned to begin in late 2026. The facility is expected to be ready to produce hydrogen in 2027.
At the core of LuxHyVal is a 5 MW electrolysis unit that will produce renewable hydrogen for industrial applications and transport. The project also foresees the deployment of 18 hydrogen fuel-cell buses, which is expected to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 5,000 tonnes per year. Additional volumes of renewable hydrogen will be supplied to industry in order to replace current consumption of non-renewable hydrogen.
According to Prof. Bradley Ladewig from the University of Luxembourg, coordinator of the LuxHyVal project, LuxHyVal is a real example of advanced technologies being integrated in support of the decarbonisation of industry and mobility. The Clean Hydrogen Partnership also emphasises that reaching the final investment decision is an important signal not only for Luxembourg, but also for the wider European hydrogen valleys ecosystem.
Among the partners in LuxHyVal are the University of Luxembourg, Paul Wurth, Encevo, Enovos, LuxEnergie, Green Power Storage Solutions, Ceratizit, LuxMobility, Sales-Lentz, Syndicat T.I.C.E., the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, as well as international partners from France, Germany, Spain, Czechia, Ukraine, and Australia.
Why these projects matter for Bulgaria
FLHyPorts and LuxHyVal clearly demonstrate what a hydrogen valley means in practice: not a standalone installation, but a complete ecosystem. Within it, renewable hydrogen production is connected with real end-users, transport, industry, infrastructure, training, traceability, and a regulatory framework.
This is particularly important for Bulgaria as well. For hydrogen to become a real part of the energy transition, technologies alone are not enough; partnerships are also needed between research organisations, industry, public institutions, infrastructure operators, and financial mechanisms. The European examples show that successful hydrogen projects are built where there is clear planning, strong consortia, trained professionals, and long-term political and investment support.
These results are an important point of reference and confirm the need for Bulgaria to accelerate the development of its own hydrogen ecosystem — through pilot and demonstration projects, infrastructure development, clear permitting regimes, specialist training, and integration with regional and European hydrogen corridors.
In this European context, the H2START project is of particular importance for Bulgaria. By establishing a Centre of Excellence in clean hydrogen technologies in Stara Zagora, H2START lays the foundation for the development of scientific capacity, specialist training, and a stronger link between research, industry, and the public sector. In this way, Bulgaria can become more actively involved in the European map of hydrogen valleys and turn its regional potential into real solutions for clean energy and mobility.
Sources:
https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/projects-dashboard/projects-repository/flhyports_en
