Five proposals for accelerating the ramp-up of green and low-carbon hydrogen in the EU

 In the member states of the EU, no progress is yet being made with the ramp-up of green and low-carbon hydrogen. Both in Europe as a whole and in Germany, the political goals and strategic targets strongly diverge from market reality. This results in damage to climate protection and weakens Europe as an industrial location.

Electrolysis capacity for the production of renewable (green) hydrogen is developing too slowly. Production plants for low-carbon hydrogen are not yet being built. There is also no effective European strategy for hydrogen imports. As a result, the availability of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen is very low and it is not yet competitive with conventional grey hydrogen.

On the other hand, demand is also too low. Users face concerns regarding the reliable, long-term availability of competitive renewable and low-carbon hydrogen. Investments in the production and development of hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure have not yet reached a satisfactory level. One of the main reasons is that the regulatory conditions for the ramp-up of green and low-carbon hydrogen and its integration in European energy supplies are either too restrictive or have not yet been finally clarified. Elements such as too stringent requirements for the use of green power for hydrogen production or excessively narrow criteria for the assessment of the carbon footprint increase production costs and restrict the possible future availability of hydrogen.

To avoid further delay and allow a rapid ramp-up of green hydrogen, action needs to be taken in five areas by the EU Commission and political decision-makers at the European Level.