The developers who formulated the 58 bids received in Brussels as part of the Third auction of the European Hydrogen Bank (IF25) requested incentives totalling EUR 8.4 billion, exceeding the available budget of EUR 1.3 billion by more than six times.
The European Commission announced this in a note, pointing out that – for the first time – the auction included a sector dedicated to producers with off-takers in the maritime or aeronautical sectors, as well as an expansion of eligibility to low-carbon electrolytic hydrogen production projects (e.g. from nuclear energy) as well as RFNBO (Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin) hydrogen.
Specifically, the RFNBO hydrogen production segment attracted 50 bids for more than EUR 7.3 billion in requested funding. In parallel, the combined RFNBO and low-carbon electrolytic hydrogen sector received 5 bids for over EUR 800 million, while the segment dedicated to projects with maritime and aeronautical offtakers attracted 3 bids for EUR 163 million of requested support.
The bids submitted,’ the Commission further writes, ‘could lead to the installation of a total electrolysis capacity of 4.3 GW.
As far as the next steps are concerned, it will now be up to CINEA (the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) to evaluate the bids submitted, verifying eligibility and eligibility as well as compliance with the qualification requirements, and then to draw up a ranking list based on the price of the eligible bids, in line with the award criteria set out in the calls for tenders.
The first results of this process will be announced between May and June 2026. Selected applicants will then be invited to prepare and sign the relevant Grant Agreements, with final awards expected by the fourth quarter of 2026.
The projects will then have to reach financial close within two and a half years after signature and start producing clean hydrogen within five years.
