On September 5–6, 2024, Riga hosted the European Hydrogen Valleys Investment Forum 2024, the flagship event of the European Hydrogen Valleys program. The forum brought together thirty of the most promising emerging companies from across the hydrogen sector, along with more than forty experienced investors, corporate representatives, and industry experts. The goal of the forum was to encourage strategic partnerships, facilitate co-investments, and strengthen the hydrogen innovation ecosystem in Europe.
The event was organized by the Latvian Hydrogen Association and co-hosted with several key partners, including Getliņi EKO, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Riga City Council, and the Embassy of the Netherlands to Latvia.
Representing Getliņi EKO, Kārlis Vonda, the company’s Wastewater Treatment Manager, participated in the panel discussion focused on innovation and hydrogen integration. He presented the CERITA project as a real-world example of how circular economy principles and renewable energy strategies, such as hydrogen applications, are being explored within waste management operations. In addition to his speaking role, Kārlis Vonda also served on the expert jury evaluating startup pitches during the forum.
The CERITA project connects six partners from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands to explore circular waste management solutions and renewable energy integration, with a strong focus on hydrogen and biomethane. The project is 100 percent funded by the European Innovation Council and the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EISMEA), and is being implemented throughout 2024.