Hydrogen accounts for less than 1% of Europe’s present energy consumption and is mainly produced through highly carbon-emitting pathways, known as ‘grey’ hydrogen, and used as feedstock in sectors, such as fertilisers and refineries.
However, clean hydrogen is expected to play a key role in the decarbonisation of sectors where other alternatives might not be feasible or be more expensive. This includes heavy-duty and long-range transport and energy-intensive industrial processes.
Renewable hydrogen and decarbonisation
Renewable hydrogen, produced through electrolysis from water using renewable electricity, can provide the mobility sector and industry with emission-free energy and feedstock.
It can also provide long-term and large-scale storage, and flexibility to the energy system. Significantly, renewable hydrogen supports the integration of renewable electricity generation, as it decouples energy production from usage in both location and time, and can balance electricity demand and supply. This in turn is also important for electricity grid management, for isolated or stand-alone regions of the EU, or for specific and local uses, concentrated in a city or restricted area.
EU hydrogen strategy
The EU strategy for energy system integration will outline a vision to create a smarter, more integrated and optimised energy system, in which all sectors can fully contribute to decarbonisation. Hydrogen will be an important element of that strategy, but its key role and its wider scope warrant a specific approach.
In this context, the Commission adopted a new dedicated strategy on hydrogen in Europe, in parallel with the strategy on energy system integration, on 8 July 2020. It will bring together different strands of action, from research and innovation over production and infrastructure to the international dimension
The new hydrogen strategy will explore the potential of clean hydrogen to help the process of decarbonising the EU economy in a cost-effective way, in line with the 2050 climate-neutrality goal, set out in the European Green Deal. It should also contribute to the recovery from the economic effects of COVID-19. The strategy will explore actions to support the production and use of clean hydrogen, focusing in particular on the mainstreaming of renewable hydrogen.
Before the strategy was adopted its ideas were presented in a EU Hydrogen Strategy Roadmap, which was launched on 26 May and open for feedback from stakeholders and the public until 8 June 2020.
Certain sectors are likely to remain reliant on combustible fuels for various purposes in future. This means that the EU’s carbon-neutral ambition is unlikely to be achieved alone by the greater use of electrification. One potential solution is to convert renewable energy sources into hydrogen, as the processed hydrogen provides high-grade heat that can be used in transport as fuels, in industries as material and in agriculture for fertilisers.
The storage potential of hydrogen is particularly beneficial for power grids, as hydrogen allows for renewable energy sources to be kept, not only in large quantities, but also for long periods. Significantly, this means that hydrogen can help improve the flexibility of energy systems by balancing out supply and demand when there is either too much or not enough power generation. This will also help boost energy efficiency throughout Europe.
The European Commission published, in April 2020, a study on the Impact of the use of the biomethane and hydrogen potential on trans-European infrastructure showing that biomethane and hydrogen will play a greater role in the EU energy system, given the continuing decarbonisation. A dedicated regulatory framework, including the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) and the Connection Europe Facility (CEF) will spur their development.
Hydrogen Energy Network
The Commission has set up an informal group of experts, composed of representatives from the ministries in charge of energy policy in EU Member States. This expert group, called the Hydrogen Energy Network (HyENet) aims to support national authorities in charge of energy policy to develop on the opportunities offered by hydrogen as an energy carrier. HyENet will act as an informal platform of exchange for information, sharing of good practices, experiences and latest developments, as well as joint work on specific issues.
HyENet meeting 26 May 2020 (video conference)
HyENet meeting on 18 November 2019, Brussels
HyENet meeting on 26 June 2019, Brussels
The EU promotes several research and innovation projects on hydrogen within the Horizon 2020 framework. These projects are managed through the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), a joint public-private partnership that is supported by the European Commission.
The European Commission and FCH JU are association partners in Hydrogen Europe, the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association. Hydrogen Europe promotes hydrogen as the enabler of a zero emission society.
Hydrogen from renewable power: Technology outlook for the energy transition (December 2018, IRENA)
Sector Forum Energy Management / Working Group Hydrogen (2016, European Joint Research Centre)
EU strategy on hydrogen (July 2020)
Factsheet: EU hydrogen strategy (July 2020)
Video: EU Hydrogen Strategy (July 2020)
- EU strategy on energy system integration
- Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU)
- Hydrogen Europe
- Hydrogen and fuel cells, European Joint Research Centre
- Hydrogen for climate action, DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMES, and Hydrogen Europe
- Energy storage (DG Research and Innovation)