Smart grids and hydrogen: €650 million from EU for connections between countries

Brussels – A total of €650 million for cross-border energy upgrades in the EU. The European Commission is investing in 14 different projects focusing on smart grids (6 projects) and hydrogen (8 projects), with resources directed to 13 Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain). The funds are made available through the programme for large networks, which rewards projects that connect different countries of the European Union, i.e., those of “common interest“. 

Of the total €650 million, almost €470 million is earmarked for the electricity sector, including smart grids. Of this, almost €113 million will go towards strengthening the capacity to defend and protect critical energy infrastructure in Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from physical and cyber threats. With the stated aim of contributing to the expansion of the growing hydrogen market and the decarbonisation of EU industry, over €176 million will be allocated to upgrading hydrogen infrastructure. 

“The projects we are supporting financially will strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and energy security, putting us on a steady path towards independence,” emphasises Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, who is convinced that “a strong and independent Energy Union that provides clean and low-cost energy to consumers must be based on integrated and secure energy infrastructure,” and that the selected projects contribute to meeting this need.