Co-governance to promote hydrogen as an energy carrier in Aragon region
About this good practice
Foundation for the development of new hydrogen technologies in Aragon (FHa) was promoted by the Government of Aragon, with the support of the administration, the regional industry and entities of different sectors. Currently, it is supported by a board formed by more than 70 members.
Aragon is a region with a huge potential for the introduction of renewable energy as wind or solar power. Moreover, Aragon counted with expertise in different parts of the value chain of hydrogen as its use in the industry, or research groups linked with the University and CSIC. Thus, FHa aims to promote the whole value chain of hydrogen and to locate the region in the map of hydrogen in the EU.
The mission of FHa is to carry out the organization, management and execution of a wide range of actions with the purpose of generating, storing and transporting hydrogen, for its use in fuel cells, in transport applications or for the generation of distributed energy. In this way it aims to foment research, technological development, cogeneration and industrial adaptation, contributing to industrial modernization and improved competitiveness.
FHa participates in actions with members of its board to promote their position and inclusion in the hydrogen economy, being a way to not only make the regional industry active in the hydrogen markets, but also to raise investment that could benefit the regional economy by creating jobs and providing novel opportunities to the inhabitants of the region.
Resources needed
Regarding human resources, FHa started with 3 employees. Currently FHa counts with 25 employees with diverse background and organised in different departments.
Evidence of success
The practice should be considered as positive because it is a good demonstration of the involvement of several entities from different sectors with the hydrogen development in the region. As KPIs, the number of board members (more than 70) and the number of projects related with hydrogen technologies where the region and the board have been represented by the Foundation (more than 30).
Potential for learning or transfer
FHa is a good practice of cogovernance as far as it is supported by the board, which is led by the Government of Aragon.
It is important to highlight the support of the local government, which has allowed the foundation to continue working all these years, even when the circumstances were not favourable. Thanks to the dedication and effort of the foundation's employees, the government has perceived this work and the strategy marked. In the same way, the local, national and European industrial sector, have perceived this government support and the stability that this represents.
Moreover, the existence of this entity has allowed to locate the region of Aragon among European Union regions that promotes hydrogen, allowing to participate in other activities for the cogovernance point of view, such as the S3 platform of hydrogen valleys.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Regional Government of Aragón