How can European experience in hydrogen mobility be applied in Stara Zagora, and how can the various hydrogen initiatives in the region complement each other? These issues were the focus of the fifth regional stakeholder meeting for the GH2M project—"Accelerating the deployment of green hydrogen mobility in EU regions"—held on September 30, 2026, in Stara Zagora..

The meeting was organized by Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency, the lead partner of the project, and gathered 30 participants from organizations and initiatives related to regional development, business, science and hydrogen technologies. She linked the interregional GH2M training to the practical issues facing the future development of hydrogen mobility in the region.

What does the experience from Sweden show?

Immediately prior to the regional meeting, the GH2M partners participated in an interregional exchange in Stockholm on September 22–23, 2026. Visits to Nykvarn and the Port of Norvik provided examples of hydrogen refueling, heavy-duty transport, and the connection between infrastructure and logistics networks.

The key conclusion presented to the participants in Stara Zagora was that hydrogen production and supply, charging infrastructure, and consumption by transport operators must be planned in an integrated manner.A station requires regular users, while a vehicle fleet needs a reliable supply and predictable operating conditions.

For the region, this entails examining specific vehicles, routes, and logistics activities that could generate sustainable demand. Data on mileage, fuel requirements, infrastructure location, and costs serve as the basis for assessing the feasibility of future solutions.

The experience at Norvik also raised the question of the role of logistics zones and industrial sites as locations where demand can be concentrated and infrastructure can serve more than one user.

Five initiatives with complementary roles

The meeting provided an opportunity to examine European experience alongside initiatives addressing various conditions for the development of a regional hydrogen ecosystem:

• GH2M supports the improvement of regional policies through interregional exchange and training.
• ZAHYR was presented as an emerging hydrogen valley model in Stara Zagora, linking production, logistics, transport applications, science, and skills.
• HySEE contributes analyses and scenarios regarding resources, potential production, demand, and infrastructure.
• PermittHy emphasizes permit procedures, safety and preparation of administration and project teams.
• H2START, coordinated by Trakia University, aims to establish a hydrogen center of excellence in Stara Zagora, linking research infrastructure, training, innovation, and industry collaboration.

The general presentation outlined opportunities for the exchange of data and expertise, as well as for improved coordination among the initiatives. The planned solutions were viewed as sources of learning and future regional case studies, the outcomes of which are to be monitored.

From general interest to specific regional case studies

Among the challenges discussed were insufficient data on future demand, high initial costs, permitting procedures, and the need for specialized skills.

Proposed follow-up actions included collecting more specific regional data, identifying enterprises and municipalities with investment ideas, documenting administrative hurdles, and determining priority training needs. These proposals could serve as a basis for selecting a limited number of case studies for in-depth analysis.

For GH2M, the knowledge gained relates to the "Regions in Growth" Programme 2021–2027 —the policy instrument that the Bulgarian partner’s work aims to improve. Regional data and interregional experience can facilitate dialogue with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works regarding the conditions for better-prepared and economically sound projects.

The meeting provided a foundation for this dialogue by placing hydrogen mobility within the context of actual demand, infrastructure, administrative readiness, and the economic diversification of Stara Zagora.

Project GH2M is co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Europe programme.