EU mulls IPCEI top-ups as national funding falls short

Only 21% of approved IPCEI projects reach FID as cost overruns and funding delays hamper progress, according to European Commission officials

The European Commission is considering topping up national funding for hydrogen Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) in a bid to support the sector as it contends with cost increases, delays and a mismatch between announced and disbursed funding by member states. The IPCEI scheme allows national governments to circumvent EU state aid rules to support approved projects. The funding relies entirely on member states’ finances, with some countries appearing unable to afford to subsidise selected projects, said Demos Spatharis, head of unit, IPCEI, environment and innovation at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition. Some €18.9b ($21.2b) in funding was app