Hosted by FME HYDROGENi, the Norwegian Centre for Environment-friendly Energy Research in hydrogen, the opening session drew over 250 attendees, with the conference featuring 72 presentations and 17 poster presentations spanning the full hydrogen value chain.
In a special feature of this year's edition, H2science was organised joint with the European PhD Hydrogen Conference (EPHyC), which was organised together with HYDROGENi's PhD students, bringing together established researchers and the next generation of hydrogen scientists.
A bumpy road ahead
In his opening plenary, conference chair and FME HYDROGENi director Nils Røkke set a tone of cautious optimism. Acknowledging the turbulence facing the sector, he said the current challenges were as much geopolitical as they were technical: "It's a bumpy road but hydrogen is no stranger to bumpy roads. Some of the challenges are due to geopolitics. In Europe, we are seeing energy security as a driver in energy autonomy and independence."
Despite the headwinds, Røkke expressed confidence in hydrogen's long-term role, framing it not as a standalone industry, but as an enabling technology woven across sectors. He stressed that Norway's continued strength in the field was built on decades of commitment.
"Hydrogen is one of the few technological areas where we still have a strong position, and this is due to persistence. It's about education, research and building a thriving ecosystem," said Røkke.
On the purpose of events like H2science itself, Røkke was clear: "This is where research, policy and industry come together to align perspectives."
Norway's industrial stake
Espen Bernhard Kjærgård from the Norwegian Ministry of Energy used his plenary address to push back against the narrative that hydrogen momentum has stalled, while acknowledging the very real challenges of cost and infrastructure.
"Headlines create the impression that hydrogen has come to a standstill, but that's a wrong conclusion," he said, pointing to European funding, including for the NORHyWAY project.
He also singled out the role of the FME research centres — including HYDROGENi — as critical infrastructure for both technological development and value chain creation.
The message from EU and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership was delivered by Mirela Atanasiu, who shared her enthusiasm in the development of Europe’s largest PEM electrolyser, which is in Norway.
Atanasiu also highlighted the importance of hydrogen valleys, noting that the partnership has now supported 27 across Europe – including one in Norway – with the goal of establishing 50 valleys in operation or under development by 2030.
Atanasiu added: “We have the potential for Europe to become a global hub for renewable hydrogen.”
The moment of truth
In his keynote, Thomas Bjørdal, from Renergy, described the importance of keeping up momentum in hydrogen research: "This is the moment of truth for hydrogen. If we don't succeed now, then we won't."
Bjørdal also reported a shift in sentiment over recent months.
After a difficult period last year in which four major partners — both Norwegian and European — withdrew from hydrogen commitments, he said 2026 had brought renewed stability: "The last six months has been stable, and that makes me more confident that we will succeed. I'm much more confident now than I was six months ago."
A growing platform for hydrogen research
The H2science conference, launched in 2024, tackles current challenges related to hydrogen and anticipates future research trends, covering the entire hydrogen value chain from production to application.
The 2026 edition built on the inaugural event's success, with the addition of the co-located EPHyC bringing a significant European PhD research community to Trondheim for the first time alongside the main conference.
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