A step... backwards is taken in the implementation of the projects for the creation of a hydrogen market in Western Macedonia.

ADVENT

The first blow came with the withdrawal of the project for the design, development of innovative hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyte systems and the creation of 650 jobs by Advent Technologies from the SDAM. This is a €64 million project whose dossier was deemed inadequate following an assessment by the Special Service for Fair Transition. It is noted that the company has lodged an objection which is expected to be examined by the competent authorities.

B&T COMPOSITES

The second came with the withdrawal of B&T Composites, the second investment included in the "Major Projects of Common European Interest" for hydrogen. The proposal, which involved the construction of model H2 storage systems for cars, heavy vehicles, yachts, etc., had been approved in July 2022 with an aid amount of €18 million.  

CLUBE

Nikos Davos, co-founder of CLUBE, the Bioeconomy and Environment Cluster of the non-profit company set up in 2014 between local stakeholders and businesses in the Region of Western Macedonia, notes in a post that, among other things, there were insufficient explanations in the disqualification of the Advent Technologies project in Kozani from the Fair Transition Fund "leaving Western Macedonia and the whole of Greece behind in the fight for clean energy and technological innovation". "All of Europe and the world are implementing investments in hydrogen, while we here are still thinking about it. We are thinking if it is too early, if the technology is immature, if it is too expensive, if projects should be implemented after 2030, 2040, etc. It would be good to see what is happening outside the country, at European or even international level. It would also be good to react dynamically, collectively and together to the fact that two major investments have been cut off from Western Macedonia for questionable reasons. We had an important growth potential in a cutting-edge technology and we are losing it without even trying to prevent adverse developments!"