29/10/2026 | Report

On 29 October 2026, around 40 partners from across Europe came together in Brussels for the EUH2STARS Plenary Consortium Meeting. Building on the momentum of the previous days during European Hydrogen Week, the meeting provided an opportunity to review project progress, exchange knowledge across work packages and coordinate the next steps towards demonstrating underground hydrogen storage in depleted natural gas reservoirs.

The morning programme featured a discussion session with the Work Package leaders, who presented the latest developments and achievements across the project. This was followed by two dedicated workshops focusing on key project topics: “Subsurface Deep Dive” and “Societal Readiness for UHS.” The sessions enabled partners to exchange expertise, address challenges and strengthen collaboration across disciplines.

In the afternoon, discussions focused on the integration of underground hydrogen storage into future energy systems and on the experiences gained at the project’s demonstration sites in Rubensdorf (Austria) and Kardoskút (Hungary). 

The meeting once again highlighted the importance of close collaboration within the consortium. Bringing partners together in person remains essential for sharing knowledge, discussing common challenges and driving the development of underground hydrogen storage as a key component of Europe’s future hydrogen economy.