The Cretan-Aegean Hydrogen Valley is covering a defined geographical area in which hydrogen will serve energy storage and energy aggregation activities via reuse of energy stored to the grid through fuel cells as well as Green H2 Road Transport. In the future Green Marine H2 Fuel applications, as well fuel for industry via its use in adjacent traditional power plant. The CRAVE-H2 is a substantial financial investment and covers all necessary steps in the hydrogen value chain, from production (securing dedicated renewable electricity production from the 582 MW Aegean project) to subsequent high pressure storage & distribution to hydrogen filling station and potential other off-takers. The Cretan-Aegean hydrogen valleys has started and has the full support of the regional authorities (partners) that pursue a "hydrogen economy”. CRAVE-H2 is necessary for piloting hydrogen market in Crete and Greece but also located in very pivotal location where leading partner EUNICE interconnects their 580 MW Aegean Wind Energy project and their new Greek - Egypt electricity transmission interconnection allowing for cheap African PV power to be introduced into the Greek electricity and hydrogen market. The location of the main hydrogen production and the above connections is the port of Atherinolakkos which could allow future deployment of use of hydrogen as maritime fuel. The main assets /scope of CRAVE - H2 are the integration of : • Alkaline Electrolyser: +3 MWel +500 tons/year H2 from DENORA • H2 compression and storage together with HRS: 1 ton • PEM Fuel Cell: 0.4 MWel from BALLARD • Employ Hydrogen buses by local company. • Re-use of water produced from the FC • Including all installation works and required AC/DC rectifier and DC/AC converters from EUNICE • LCA / LCC and study of other H2 uses in power plant, industry and maritime applications.

CRETE VALLEY aims to create a Renewable Energy Valley 'Living Lab' (REV-Lab) in Crete. It is envisioned as a decentralised renewable energy system that combines leading-edge ICT technologies, interoperable and open digital solutions (including data sovereignty), social innovation processes, and sound business models that are easy to adopt. CRETE VALLEY will demonstrate a digitalised, distributed, renewable, low carbon landscape that is affordable for all and fully covers the local energy needs on an annual basis, utilizing multiple renewable energy carriers and leveraging energy storage technologies. The REV-Lab will integrate four Community Energy Labs (CELs) located in distinct sites across CRETE VALLEY, conceived as Innovation Hubs. An integrated social, technological & business approach will be deployed, providing: A Social Science Framework for REV-Labs & CELs, innovative multi-level governance models & social-driven mechanisms for involving citizens in the co-design, implementation and exploitation of RES; AI-based market segmentation algorithms, MCDA methods and consensus analysis for REV configuration; Interactive tools for REV planning (REV Readiness Assessment & computation, Augmented Reality applications, decision support tool); Energy Data Space compliant digital backbone for consumer and REV-level data-driven ‘activation’; P2P DLT/Blockchain digital marketplace for tokenised energy and non-energy assets valuation and reciprocal compensation; Data-driven operational analysis, advanced AI/ML tools and flexibility modelling services for optimal operation & resilience of the local energy grid; System-of-system Dig. Twin for multiple carrier grid management & operation; Data-driven services and apps for energy efficiency and activation performance management towards energy autonomy; Enabling RES technologies to increase the power production; REV Business Sandbox and blueprints for REV-Lab setup, upscaling and replication (including 4 Follower Communities).