Clean Hydrogen Partnership 2026 Call is open: EUR 105 million for hydrogen R&I - and a clear window for Baltic Hydrogen Valleys
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership has opened its 2026 Call for Proposals with EUR 105 million under Horizon Europe, including EUR 25 million dedicated to Hydrogen Valleys. For Latvia and the Baltics, this is a timely opportunity to build integrated regional ecosystems that connect renewable hydrogen production with distribution and multiple end uses - and to bring real-world demonstrations closer to deployment.
NEWS
HydrogenLatvia
2/12/20263 min read
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership has opened its 2026 Call for Proposals, putting EUR 105 million on the table under Horizon Europe to accelerate hydrogen technologies across the value chain - from renewable hydrogen production and storage to transport, heat and power, and cross-cutting topics. For Latvia and the wider Baltic region, the most strategic signal is the dedicated allocation for Hydrogen Valleys: EUR 25 million across two topics, aimed at integrated regional ecosystems that link production, distribution and end uses.
This call is positioned in an “upscaling” phase: the emphasis is increasingly on real-world demonstration, cost reduction, performance and durability improvements, safety, and infrastructure readiness. In practice, that means proposals that can show credible deployment pathways, measurable impact, and strong consortia are likely to be more competitive than purely conceptual work.
What is in the 2026 call (in numbers)
According to the Clean Hydrogen Partnership call page, 21 topics are available across these areas:
Renewable Hydrogen Production: 6 topics - EUR 16 million
Hydrogen Storage and Distribution: 4 topics - EUR 17.5 million
Transport: 4 topics - EUR 25 million
Heat and Power: 3 topics - EUR 16 million
Cross-cutting: 2 topics - EUR 5.5 million
Hydrogen Valleys: 2 topics - EUR 25 million
The deadline is 15 April 2026 (17:00 CEST). The call is implemented using lump sum grants.
Why Hydrogen Valleys matter for Latvia and the Baltics
Hydrogen Valleys are designed to move beyond single-asset projects and instead build connected “systems”: production + distribution + multiple end uses, anchored in a region. For Latvia and the Baltics, this approach fits several practical realities:
Scale and demand aggregation: smaller markets can reach bankable volumes by bundling industrial users, mobility corridors, ports, airports, and municipal fleets.
Grid and renewables integration: regional projects can align electrolyser operation with renewable generation profiles, curtailment avoidance, and flexibility needs.
Cross-border logic: Baltic supply chains and infrastructure planning are naturally regional (Latvia-Estonia-Lithuania), which can strengthen the credibility of an ecosystem narrative.
Hydrogen Valleys also create a platform effect: once a region has a working backbone (permitting, offtake structures, safety case, operations), follow-on investments become easier and cheaper.
Where Baltic proposals can be most competitive
Based on the call structure and the Partnership’s stated focus on demonstrations and de-risking, Baltic stakeholders may want to prioritise proposals that are strong on implementation constraints, not just ambition. Three opportunity angles stand out:
Integrated demand: build a Valley around “anchor” offtakers
Industrial heat and feedstock users (where substitution pathways are clear)
Heavy-duty transport and logistics nodes
Maritime and port-related applications
Airport ecosystems (ground operations and future SAF/PtX linkages)
Infrastructure and safety readiness
Storage and distribution solutions that are realistic for regional roll-out
Operational safety, standards, and monitoring approaches that can be replicated
Supply chain and European competitiveness. The call underlines industrial leadership and competitiveness. For Baltic consortia, this is a reminder to clearly map:
What equipment and components are used,
Where they come from,
and how the project strengthens European supply chains.
Practical proposal notes (what to prepare now)
If you are considering joining or building a consortium, the near-term work is less about writing and more about structuring a credible project:
Define the “system boundary”: production volumes, distribution concept, and end-use portfolio.
Quantify impact: expected emissions reduction, cost learning, reliability improvements, utilisation rates, and replication potential.
Clarify co-funding logic: how private and regional funding will complement EU support.
Build the right mix of partners: industry + research + infrastructure operators + end users + regional actors.
Decide early whether you are aiming for an Innovation Action (deployment-heavy) or a Research and Innovation Action (technology development).
Next steps for Latvia and the Baltics
For Latvian and Baltic ecosystem players, the 2026 call is a concrete opportunity to:
position a Baltic Hydrogen Valley as a deployable, integrated system,
connect national priorities with EU-level demonstration funding,
and bring more regional stakeholders into European consortia where the learning and networks compound over time.
If your organisation is exploring participation, now is the time to map a realistic use-case cluster, identify anchor offtakers, and start consortium conversations.
Source: Call for proposals 2026 – OPEN