Aragón has defended its role in Europe’s renewable hydrogen development at an international conference held in Pamplona, calling for faster progress on industrial projects, infrastructure and new applications to turn the technology into economic activity, jobs and energy independence.
Aragón calls for faster deployment of renewable hydrogen in Europe
Javier Navarro, a member of the Board of Hydrogen Europe and technical adviser to the Government of Aragón, spoke at the conference on hydrogen and energy communities organized under the European PHYRENE and SHAREDH2 projects. In a presentation titled The European Perspective of Regions in the Deployment of Hydrogen Technology, he outlined European regions’ view of the sector’s development.
Navarro said Europe is going through “a decisive moment in consolidating the hydrogen economy.” Following an initial phase focused on planning and strategy-setting, he said the challenge is to effectively advance industrial projects, infrastructure networks and applications that can create a robust market.
The Aragonese representative linked renewable hydrogen not only to emissions reductions, but also to resilience, competitiveness and strategic autonomy. He said the technology can strengthen Europe’s industrial capacity, reduce energy dependencies and create economic opportunities across regions.
Regions connect hydrogen production, demand and infrastructure
During his presentation, Navarro emphasized the role of regions in translating energy strategies into practical action. In his view, these areas connect production, demand, innovation and infrastructure—the fields where investments are realized, technologies are developed and opportunities are created for businesses and citizens.
The event brought together institutional representatives, research centers, public bodies and companies from various European regions. It provided a forum to share experiences, assess progress across the hydrogen value chain and address cross-border cooperation as a tool for advancing toward a more sustainable, competitive and resilient economy.
PHYRENE and SHAREDH2 promote cooperation in the Pyrenees region
The European PHYRENE and SHAREDH2 projects promote collaboration among regions in Spain, France, Andorra and Portugal to accelerate renewable hydrogen development and support a shared energy transition on both sides of the borders.
These initiatives aim to strengthen the entire hydrogen value chain and promote innovative energy storage and end-use solutions in the Pyrenees region and southwestern Europe. Aragón’s participation in the forum is part of its involvement in European networks and initiatives related to decarbonization, innovation and industrial competitiveness.
