The production of green hydrogen is set to be increased after a Joint Declaration was co-signed by the Commission and 20 leading manufacturers. The deal marks the electrolyser industry’s commitment to a tenfold increase of its manufacturing capacities by 2025. It also meets the reinforced targets set by the RePowerEU plan.
The deal will enable the EU to reach the Commission’s proposed 2030 target of producing 10 million tons of green hydrogen per year. Moreover, it will improve Europe’s sustainable and secure energy supply, while reducing its reliance on Russian gas.
The declaration contains a target to increase manufacturing capacity tenfold to 17.5 GW per year. Furthermore, it features plans to implement a supportive regulatory framework, facilitate access to finance and promote efficient supply chains.
Other actions
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- The document also highlights how the Commission plans to:
- Ensure that regulation governing green hydrogen production supports a fast and affordable ramp-up of the market
- Focus on accelerated permitting for renewable energy projects, including renewable hydrogen
- Assess State aid notifications for green hydrogen projects as a priority
- Collaborate with the European Investment Bank to help fund manufacturing and deployment projects
- Establish an ‘Electrolyser Partnership’ to bring together manufacturers and suppliers of components and materials
As well as helping to replace Russian gas, the move will help decarbonise hard-to-abate industry sectors and transport applications.
After signing the document last week, Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, said: “Clean hydrogen is indispensable to reduce industrial carbon emissions and contribute to our energy independence from Russia. We have no time to lose, which is why this European electrolyser summit is so opportune.”
He added: “Today, industry agreed to a tenfold increase in electrolyser manufacturing capacities in Europe. The Commission will support this important industrial upscaling for an industrial leadership in the clean energy technologies of the future.”
Eurelectric has called for the use of indirect electrification via hydrogen where direct electrification is not technically feasible.
It also says that implementing a coherent regulatory framework for the hydrogen market should reduce the cost of producing clean hydrogen – particularly from electrolysis, which should become the dominant source of hydrogen supply.
The remarks form part of Eurelectric’s newly published feedback on the Gas Package – a position it promoted this week at the 36th Madrid Forum.
A discussion on hydrogen will take place on Day 1 of the Power Summit. The full programme is here.
