Essay by Eric Worrall

WINNING: €22 Billion EU Government money spent to produce 20,000 tons of green hydrogen, at a price of €1.1 million per ton, or €11,000 / kg.

What’s stopping Europe from reaching its clean hydrogen goals?

By Andrea Bolitho & Euronews
Published on 05/03/2024 – 17:00•Updated 06/03/2024 – 10:51 

Green hydrogen is predicted to be a leading renewable energy source in the future, but production in Europe must ramp up massively to hit targets.

While the EU has pinned green hydrogen as one of the fuels of the future and aims to generate 10 million tonnes while importing a further 10 million tonnes by the end of the decade, renewable hydrogen production in Europe was just 20,000 tonnes in 2022.

Furthermore, 96 per cent of hydrogen used across Europe in 2022 was made from natural gas, resulting in significant carbon emissions.

“We need a clear regulation and a clear permitting process, and we need access to the [energy] grid,” explained Carlos Fúnez Guerra, the Green Hydrogen Development Manager at Iberdrola.

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Can Europe still reach its goal?

“The big question behind all of this is money and funds,” reminded Malvault.

The European Commission has implemented a clean hydrogen regulatory framework and is investing heavily, so far, it has provided €22 billion and counting.

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But Malvault warned Euronews that more funding will still be needed to reach the EU’s targets.

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Read more: https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/03/05/whats-stopping-europe-from-reaching-its-clean-hydrogen-goals

What can I say? If only some of these affordable and economically viable climate goals could be achieved without spending so much taxpayer subsidy cash.