Romania Expands Hydrogen Infrastructure with $152 Million Ro-HydroHub Initiative

Romania has officially launched the Romanian Hydrogen and New Energy Technologies Hub (Ro-HydroHub), a €140 million ($152 million) center of excellence dedicated to advancing hydrogen-based technologies. Funded through the European Union’s Smart Growth, Digitalization, and Financial Instruments Program 2021–2027 (PoCIDIF), the project aims to modernize the nation’s energy sector and support the EU’s broader climate and decarbonization goals.

“Today we are not only launching a project, but we are laying the foundations of a new economic model for Romania – one based on innovation, sustainability and technological excellence,” said Marcel Boloș, Romania’s Minister of Investments and European Projects. He emphasized that this investment, secured after negotiations with the European Commission, is designed to support high-value product development and strengthen Romania’s domestic industrial capabilities.

A Strategic Investment in Hydrogen Innovation

Ro-HydroHub will be implemented by the National Institute for Research and Development for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies – ICSI Râmnicu Vâlcea, in partnership with the POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest, the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, and nine private sector companies. The hub will focus on several key areas: hydrogen production, storage, and supply; fuel cell and electrolyzer development; integration of hydrogen into renewable energy systems; industrial technology transfer; and workforce training through master’s and doctoral programs.

The hub is intended to serve as a national and European center of excellence, facilitating collaboration among academia, industry, and EU institutions to accelerate the adoption of clean hydrogen solutions.

Romania’s Role in Europe’s Hydrogen Economy

Hydrogen is a central pillar of the EU’s energy transition strategy. According to the European Commission, hydrogen could account for up to 24% of global energy demand by 2050, with the EU targeting up to $510 billion (€470 billion) in investments in hydrogen by mid-century. Ro-HydroHub positions Romania to play a strategic role in this transformation, particularly as part of the European Hydrogen Backbone—a proposed cross-continental hydrogen infrastructure network with potential routes through Romania.

Romania’s commitment to hydrogen also aligns with its National Energy and Climate Plan, which outlines decarbonization of the energy sector and integration of renewables. By investing in hydrogen now, the country aims to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and establish itself as a regional leader in clean energy technologies.