Developing an internal market for hydrogen

A forward-looking regulatory framework is the trampoline taking hydrogen to the centre of the energy system. The objectives of the Hydrogen Strategy should translate into clear policies removing barriers to hydrogen investment, enabling the development of clean hydrogen technologies, and scaling their deployment to deliver net zero by 2050.

  • Set clean hydrogen targets to boost liquidity and unlock the rollout of clean hydrogen technologies. Massive volumes of clean energy will be needed to deliver emission reductions. Translating new policy and regulatory development into concrete market realities takes time. As such, Hydrogen Europe considers it is imperative to set targets for clean hydrogen to ensure essential investments are channelled towards hydrogen applications in time to meet 2030 climate targets.
  • Establish a sound certification system for all hydrogen types to incentivise market development. A harmonised system of Guarantees of Origin for all types of hydrogen is required to accurately demonstrate to final customers the share or quantity of energy from renewable sources in an energy supplier’s energy mix and the energy supplied to consumers.

                  

Building integrated hydrogen infrastructure

The development of the hydrogen backbone shall factor in future outlooks and interoperability by fast tracking initial projects, building hydrogen valleys with regional and local hydrogen infrastructure, blending with natural gas and converting large parts of the gas grid to hydrogen. The hydrogen grid will ensure large scale, seasonal flexibility and provide balancing services to the electricity grid. 

 

Decarbonising all mobility applications with hydrogen

The fast-growing demand for mobility and transport of goods should be met with clean alternatives on road, water and air. Hydrogen is the alternative solution that can decarbonise all mobility applications and create a clean, multimodal transport system for generations to come. 

Delivering system efficiency

Hydrogen is the mechanism flexibly transferring energy across sectors, time, and place in a more circular energy system. This includes storage and transport, end-use in numerous consuming sectors but also raw materials efficiency. 

 

Decarbonising buildings – all sectors have the right to hydrogen 

Heating is central to our daily lives and comfort. Much of today’s domestic heating is linked to the use of fossil fuels, with significant environmental impacts that clean hydrogen can reduce and deliver net-zero buildings by 2050.

 

Decarbonising EU’s industrial base

Hydrogen closes the carbon cycle and substitutes fossil fuel use in hard to abate sectors by making use of a strengthened EU ETS and introduction of a CBAM. Climate ambitions and EU industry can go hand in hand by using hydrogen technologies and delivering clean products and job for Europeans.

 

Leveraging investment by channelling state aid into hydrogen projects 

State aid is a valuable tool for hydrogen technologies rollout ensuring access to direct funding from Member States whilst safeguarding competition. Hydrogen Europe welcomes the current revision of the GBER, the updated Communication on State aid and the CEEAG Guidelines: the three pieces of legislation will allow the hydrogen economy to have access, ramp-up, scale-up and consolidate across the European internal market, thus bolstering competitiveness towards foreign competitors.

 

Global Hydrogen Markets

Europe is a pioneer in clean hydrogen technologies, its regulatory framework and hydrogen backbone are first steps towards the establishment of hydrogen as a traded global commodity. Hydrogen is central to fostering economic diplomacy, the emergence of global value chains and technological leadership.