Building a resilient and sustainable energy future: New hydrogen project for Sweden
image: HyWHyV logo
Credit: European Science Communication Institute gGmbH
Today, many industries in Europe rely on fossil fuels for energy and hydrogen production, making them dependent on imports. The European Union and many of its member countries like Sweden are pushing towards more independence, improving resilience also during global disturbances. The new HiWHyV (High Coast West Coast Hydrogen Valley) project aims to strengthen energy security, support a cleaner industry, and create long-term value for businesses and citizens alike.
“Green hydrogen is an important puzzle piece in the transition,” says Anna Sager, Senior Project Manager at RISE and HiWHyV Project Coordinator. “We need to produce our own hydrogen, which Sweden has really good conditions for because of available renewable electricity so we can produce green hydrogen here without being dependent on fossil fuels or other countries.”
The strong access to renewable energy, especially wind and hydropower, puts Sweden in a unique position to produce renewable hydrogen at a large scale. Backed with funding from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and the European Union, the project not only establishes the production of hydrogen, but also its storage, distribution, and use across industries along Sweden’s High Coast and West Coast and their hinterlands.
Building on Sweden's existing hydrogen industry, the project will enable the implementation of renewable hydrogen across the entire value chain. This includes sectors such as agriculture, transport (including aviation and shipping) and the chemical industry.
HiWHyV will also demonstrate the application of renewable hydrogen, from pilot to real-world use in two case studies: advancing fuel cell trucks for long-haul transport and enabling hydrogen-based backup power as a zero-emission alternative to diesel generators.
As the project progresses, HiWHyV will transfer the knowledge and experience gained throughout its implementation. The project partners will provide practical tools, shared knowledge, and clear guidance that serve as a blueprint for other regions planning and implementing their own renewable hydrogen ecosystem. This includes supporting the development of three hydrogen valleys across Europe in Greece, Spain, and Germany.
HiWHyV brings together a European consortium of overall 45 partners coordinated by RISE in Sweden. The project started on the first of January 2026 and will run for six years until the end of December 2031. It is co-funded with 19.8 million euro by the European Union and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. The final targeted annual hydrogen production is by overall 4 000 tonnes from 2030. The consortium combines expertise from research organisations, universities, industry, technology providers and municipalities.