PermittHy Project Kicks Off in Birmingham, Strengthening Hydrogen Permitting Capacity Across Europe

The European PermittHy project officially launched with a kick-off meeting held on 15–16 January in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The meeting brought together partners from across Europe to initiate a coordinated effort aimed at improving permitting and regulatory processes for hydrogen technologies and infrastructure.

PermittHy addresses a critical barrier to hydrogen deployment: complex, fragmented and time-consuming permitting procedures. The project focuses on enhancing knowledge, skills and practical tools related to hydrogen licensing, safety and regulatory frameworks, supporting public authorities, project developers and other stakeholders involved in hydrogen implementation.

The project is closely connected to HyAcademy.EU, contributing to Europe’s wider hydrogen skills and capacity-building ecosystem. PermittHy will complement HyAcademy’s training activities by developing targeted educational content, guidance materials and best-practice resources focused specifically on permitting and regulatory challenges. These outputs are intended to strengthen institutional capacity and ensure a more harmonised approach across European countries.

During the kick-off meeting, partners aligned on objectives, work plans and timelines, and exchanged insights on national permitting practices. By fostering collaboration and linking regulatory expertise with existing hydrogen education frameworks, PermittHy aims to reduce administrative barriers and support the accelerated, safe and efficient deployment of hydrogen projects across Europe.