The Pyrenees and Southwest Europe Join Forces for Hydrogen
The current geopolitical landscape, shaken by tensions in global commodity and energy markets, has placed energy sovereignty at the center of the continental agenda. In the face of these challenges, cross-border territorial cooperation is emerging as the most effective tool for ensuring economic stability. Next Tuesday, October 6, 2026, Pamplona will serve as the meeting point for the European energy sector at the conference “Innovation for the Energy Transition: Hydrogen and Energy Communities in the Pyrenees and Southwest Europe,” where the final results of the PHYRENE (POCTEFA) and SHAREDH2 (Interreg SUDOE) projects will be presented.
With the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, the regions of the Pyrenean cross-border area (Spain, France, and Andorra) and the SUDOE area (France, Spain, and Portugal) are promoting decentralized technological solutions. Harnessing natural resources through renewable hydrogen is a key strategy for strengthening industrial competitiveness and mitigating energy price volatility.
The event will be held at the Salón Pinaquy in Pamplona and will bring together institutional representatives, public energy agencies, academic institutions, and private-sector operators. The institutional opening session will feature Mikel Irujo, Minister of Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition for the Government of Navarre; Idoia Arauzo, from the Pyrenees Working Community (CTP); and Blanca Delia Real, from the Technological Institute of Castile and León (ITCL). The event will include presentations by Spain’s Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), France’s Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe), and Portugal’s Association of Energy and Environment Agencies (RNAE).
¡REGISTER FOR THE EVENT!Value Chain Integration and Flexible Storage
The morning session will address the achievements of the POCTEFA PHYRENE project, 65% co-financed by the ERDF, which is dedicated to consolidating the renewable hydrogen value chain on both sides of the Pyrenean border. Within this framework, the strategic study on cross-border interconnections will be presented, with technical input from the Aragon Hydrogen Foundation, the Basque Energy Agency (EVE), ACCIÓ, and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional government. In addition, leading companies such as Enagás and Teréga, along with the Port of Bayonne and the Navarre Industry Association (AIN), will analyze transportation infrastructure, followed by a presentation on the H2 Intervalley Alliance by the Basque Hydrogen Corridor (BH2C).
In the afternoon, the focus will shift to the Interreg SUDOE SHAREDH2 project, 75% co-financed by the ERDF and coordinated by the ITCL, which is dedicated to the deployment of hydrogen as a flexible storage solution for local energy communities. Experts from the Association of European Border Regions (ARFE), Senda Sostenible, H2CyL, CIMNE, Goiener, and UNEF will discuss ways to overcome legal and technical barriers in rural areas.
Practical Information and Registration
The event offers simultaneous interpretation in Spanish and French. Attendance is free, but advance registration is required.
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (9:00 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.)
Location: Salón Pinaquy (Calle de San Francisco, 5, 31001 Pamplona, Navarre)
Access: City bus (Lines 3, 16, 17, and 21) | Public parking at Parking Baluarte Telpark and Parking Saba Plaza del Castillo.
DOWNLOAD THE AGENDA!Explore our progress in the European Hydrogen Projects section, analyze the regional socioeconomic impact with our Green Hydrogen Calculator, or check out our upcoming Aragon Hydrogen Week.
