Press Release

Brussels, 23 June

Today, Hydrogen Europe with other industry organisations published a joint statement calling on EU policymakers to ensure that the development of hydrogen infrastructure is adequately addressed in the ongoing EU Grids Package negotiations.

As Europe seeks to strengthen competitiveness, energy security and decarbonisation, hydrogen infrastructure will be essential, alongside electricity networks, in building an integrated and resilient energy system.

The joint statement calls for:

• Equal treatment of hydrogen and electricity infrastructure in permitting procedures;
• Recognition of hydrogen infrastructure as being of overriding public interest;
• Better framework for hydrogen network planning, storage, and cross-border infrastructure;
• More coordinated planning of electricity and hydrogen infrastructure;
• Stronger support for integrated European energy corridors.

While welcoming the progress made in the European Parliament, the industry organisations underline that further action is needed, especially on the Council’s position, to ensure hydrogen infrastructure can be deployed at the scale and speed required to meet Europe’s energy and industrial objectives.

Daniel Fraile, Chief Market Officer at Hydrogen Europe, commented: “The EU Grids Package is an important opportunity to ensure that hydrogen networks fully contribute to Europe’s competitiveness, energy security and decarbonisation. An integrated plan for hydrogen, electricity, and gas grids is key to integrating more renewables at the lowest cost for citizens and business. Without the right conditions for hydrogen in this legislative package, we will miss a tremendous opportunity for a truly integrated and cost-optimized energy system”.

The statement will support the ongoing engagement with the EU institutions and Member States as negotiations on the EU Grids Package continue.

For more information:

• Joint statement on the European Commission’s Grids Package