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European Programmes

European hydrogen strategy to analyse the potential of hydrogen

European Programmes

In Juli 2020, the European Commission published its Hydrogen Strategy. It outlines how to maximise the potential of hydrogen for decarbonizing the industrial sector, transport, power generation, and the building sector through investments, regulations, market development, research and innovation.

The key objective behind the Hydrogen Strategy is the development of renewable hydrogen, produced mainly from wind and solar power. However, in the short and medium term, other forms of low-carbon hydrogen will be required to quickly curb emissions and develop a viable market. The strategy is based on the following phases until 2050:

  • 2020 – 2024: Support the installation of electrolysers for renewable hydrogen production with an electrolyser capacity of at least 6 GW and the production of up to 1 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen.
  • 2025 – 2030: Install electrolysers with an electrolyser capacity of at least 40 GW and produce up to 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen.
  • 2030 – 2050: Deploy renewable hydrogen technologies on a large scale in all sectors where decarbonisation is difficult.

To implement this strategy, the European Commission has launched the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, bringing together key players from the industrial sector, civil society, national and international ministers, and the European Investment Bank. The alliance aims to build an investment pipeline for expanding hydrogen production and promote demand for clean hydrogen in the EU.
 

Several EU programmes and initiatives support the development of hydrogen technologies and fuel cells:

  • Horizon 2020: Numerous hydrogen and fuel cell technology projects were funded within Horizon 2020 between 2014 and 2020. As a follow-up programme, Horizon Europe continues to support the entire research and innovation cycle in the 2021-2027 period with a focus on R&D for clean hydrogen.
  • Green Deal: The first call for a Green Deal in Area 2 (clean, affordable and secure energy) included a focus on hydrogen technologies. The initiative funded pilot applications, showcase projects, and innovative products, as well as innovations for a successful transition toward a greener and more digital system.
  • Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking: FCH JU is a public-private partnership that supports research and technological development of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies, aiming to accelerate market entry.
  • Hydrogen Europe Network: This network advocates for industrial and stakeholder interests in hydrogen technology and fuel cells. It represents the entire value chain with 160 companies, 78 research organisations and 25 national associations.
  • ETS Innovation Fund: This EU programme helps to showcase innovative low-carbon technologies. The first call of the EU Innovation Fund focused on large projects with an investment volume of over 7.5 million euros in clean energy and clean industry. The call received over 20 times more applications than could be funded. This indicates that the European industrial sector has numerous innovative projects in the pipeline.
  • JTI Clean Sky 27: This aviation research programme is a public-private partnership between the European Commission and the European aviation industry. It coordinates research and innovation among industrial companies, SMEs, universities and research centres. The goal is to develop groundbreaking technologies to significantly improve the environmental performance of aircrafts, particularly to reduce fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, exterior noise levels (by 50%), and NOx emissions.
     

Germany: In 2020, Germany published its national hydrogen strategy, aiming to become a leader in green hydrogen. The country plans to invest 9 billion euros in public funds to make hydrogen a viable energy carrier, with 7 billion euros for hydrogen technology and 2 billion euros for international partnerships. The strategy also addresses the need for imports to meet hydrogen demand.

France: France introduced its first hydrogen plan in 2018 and presented another strategy in 2020, aiming to invest 7.2 billion euros by 2030. Around 1.5 billion euros of the budget will be allocated for building electrolysis plants, and nearly 1 billion euros for developing hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles. One of the declared goals is to ensure a hydrogen production capacity of 6.5 GW by 2030.

Netherlands: The Dutch government is planning to invest 9 billion euros within its hydrogen strategy presented in 2020 to promote hydrogen as an energy carrier. The administration aims to have about 300,000 fuel cell vehicles on Dutch roads by 2030 and increase electrolysis capacities to 3-4 GW.

Norway: Norway’s hydrogen strategy published in summer 2020 and funded with approximately 350 million euros prioritises efforts in country-specific areas. One of the goals is to increase the number of pilot and showcase projects to further develop and market hydrogen technologies. Key applications for hydrogen are seen in maritime and heavy transport, as well as in industrial processes.  

 

HyPA - Hydrogen Partnership Austria – the partnership for hydrogen in Austria, powered by BMK, BMAW and the State Government of Tyrol

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