European Hydrogen Forum: EU moves ahead with the clean hydrogen agenda
The European Hydrogen Forum, the first assembly of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, announced as part of the new industrial strategy for Europe in March and launched in July 2020 together with the EU Hydrogen Strategy, will take place on 26-27 November. Attended by Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson and Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel, this high-level event focuses on how to help EU hydrogen research and industry to achieve EU’s climate neutrality goals. Already joined by over 800 key stakeholders, the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance aims at an ambitious deployment of green hydrogen technologies in Europe by 2030, bringing together renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production and demand in industry, mobility and other sectors, and hydrogen transmission and distribution. This will be achieved, among others, through an investment agenda and concrete projects, building upon the strategic research and innovation agenda of the future proposed Clean Hydrogen Research and Innovation Partnership, as well as by mobilising resources and actors to install at least 6 GW of renewable hydrogen electrolysers in the EU by 2024 and 40 GW by 2030. Commissioner Breton said: “Clean hydrogen plays a key role in the race to decarbonise numerous sectors of our economy. As a central element of the European Green Deal, renewable and low carbon hydrogen will not only contribute to the green energy transition, but also represent significant business opportunities for EU companies. Member States should use the national recovery funds wisely to help lay the foundation of hydrogen markets and cross-border infrastructure in Europe.” The first edition of the European Hydrogen Forum is jointly organised by the Commission and the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. With this event, the work of the Alliance enters a new crucial phase as in December this year, it will launch six thematic roundtables, in the form of working groups responsible for its operational work. To watch the event online please register here.