HYDROGEN AND EUROPE
What is renewable hydrogen?
Imagine an invisible, lightweight energy source, with no smoke and no pollution. That’s renewable hydrogen! It’s produced from water (H₂O) and green electricity—like the kind generated by the sun or wind. The process is called water electrolysis. The result: clean hydrogen with no CO₂ emissions! It’s a real alternative to polluting fuels—you can use it to power trains, heat homes, or supply factories without harming the planet.
Check out this video on how the EU is developing alternative fuel infrastructure.
✔️ Europe is taking action for a greener future:
The European Union has made hydrogen a strategic priority. Why? Because it helps achieve a triple goal:
Fighting climate change
Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels (like Russian gas or oil)
Creating future-proof jobs in Europe
In 2023, the European Commission published two key regulations. They set the conditions hydrogen must meet to be officially considered “renewable.” Among them:
It must be produced from new renewable electricity (not from old wind or solar plants).
It must not increase overall electricity consumption (the electricity used must be additional—not diverted from what households or businesses already use).
🎯 Europe’s 2030 targets:
Europe is serious about its ambitions:
✅ Produce 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen
✅ Import an additional 10 million tonnes
✅ Create a European Hydrogen Bank to finance innovative projects
✅ Build a European hydrogen infrastructure network: pipelines, refueling stations, production units
🌱 Concrete benefits of hydrogen:
👉 It can power trains, trucks, and even airplanes—with zero CO₂ emissions
👉 It can supply heavy industries (like steel and cement production), which are among the most polluting
👉 It can store renewable energy, helping prevent waste when there’s too much sun or wind
🔧 Example: A steel plant in Spain replaced coal with hydrogen to produce “green” steel. The result: a dramatic reduction in polluting emissions!
🧠 A young energy, full of promise:
Today, green hydrogen is still expensive to produce. But with technological progress and public funding, prices are falling every year. The more we invest, the more accessible it becomes.
And here’s the good news: France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark are already making massive investments to turn Europe into the world leader in renewable hydrogen.
🧭 In summary:
Europe is betting on hydrogen to tackle one of the biggest challenges of our century: producing clean, local, and sustainable energy. It’s an ambitious bet, but with clear rules, financial backing, and millions of engaged citizens, that future is within reach. 🌱