As more and more cities scale their efforts to become climate-neutral, local governments require more information, knowledge and tools to analyse, and plan the future of their energy systems. Clean hydrogen is emerging as key energy carriers in the global transition to sustainable energy systems, particularly for decarbonising energy-intensive sectors, such as heavy industry and shipping.
Cities can explore clean hydrogen to cut emissions, boost sustainable economic growth, and achieve net-zero energy goals. Cities can support and contribute to the development of clean Hydrogen Valleys, serving as hubs where production, distribution, and utilization converge to create integrated ecosystems. Adopting hydrogen technologies in public transport, logistics, and urban industries accelerates decarbonisation and fosters a thriving hydrogen economy.
Urban areas play a crucial role in enabling Hydrogen Valleys by uniting businesses, researchers, and policymakers. Their role is especially critical in developing countries, where urban areas act as gateways for emerging markets.
Cities also empower communities and cultivate the workforce needed for a hydrogen economy through education, partnerships, and innovation hubs. By promoting policies and local projects, they align local actions with global goals, advancing clean hydrogen’s accessibility and affordability. Together, these efforts bridge local needs with international ambitions for a sustainable future.
The Urban Transitions (UTM) and Clean Hydrogen (CHM) Missions are collaborating to support cities in the UTM cohort to have a better understanding of hydrogen technologies and their possible successful application in an urban context.
For this scope, UTM and CHM developed a guidebook on clean hydrogen in cities to help cities better understand the benefits and possible pitfalls of clean hydrogen applications in the urban context and to contribute to the development and implementation of hydrogen projects and strategies. The guidebook aims to showcase the potential of clean hydrogen in supporting cities in the energy transition, to present best practice examples of integrated hydrogen projects, and to share recommendation on dos and don’ts.
Furthermore, the UTM and CHM host three virtual sessions of a knowledge-exchange program focusing on clean hydrogen in cities over October-December, 2024. These sessions, designed to share knowledge, build capacity, and evaluate the opportunities of hydrogen solutions, hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and their applications in urban energy systems, aimed at supporting cities identify the best approach in their context. You can access the recording below.
Both the exchanges and the guidebook are dedicated to city experts of UTM Cities considering and engaging with the planning and future implementation of clean Hydrogen technology systems and aim at helping them understand and evaluate the opportunities of these technologies.
Session 1 (16 October 2024) – RECORDING HERE
Green Hydrogen: main technologies and applications
Learning objectives:
- What are the main hydrogen technologies, their potential, opportunities and challenges
- Application in urban areas for different types of cities and contexts, costs and RoI
Session 2 (6 Nov 2024) – RECORDING HERE
Hydrogen Valleys: Development and success factors
Learning objectives:
- What are Hydrogen Valleys and how do these projects support the transition to a clean hydrogen economy?
- What are the main steps involved in setting up a Hydrogen Valley?
- What are the key success factors for an integrated and effective hydrogen project?
- What types of support exist to create a Hydrogen Valley or a hydrogen project from scratch?
Session 3 (13 Nov 2024) – RECORDING HERE
Enabling environment for hydrogen applications in urban areas: collaboration and finance
Learning objectives:
- What can we learn from collaboration between countries and cities on hydrogen and fuel cell projects?
- How can hydrogen trade, value chains and their enablers, such as sustainability certification and quality infrastructure, support the development of a hydrogen economy?
- What funding programs and initiatives support the implementation of hydrogen projects?
Join and follow the Energy Cluster on UTMC to get more information regarding upcoming opprtunities, and flag your interest in presenting your experience or questions to enrich the dialogue between the UTM cities.
