Jul 31, 2025
Hydrogen Europe urges the promotion of clean hydrogen to strengthen Europe's energy resilience.
Hydrogen Europe has published its latest position paper, “Hydrogen for an Energy Resilient Europe,” advocating for a fundamental change in the EU’s energy security strategy. As Europe increasingly encounters geopolitical disruptions and technical weaknesses—illustrated by the blackout in the Iberian Peninsula in May 2025—the report emphasizes that clean hydrogen must be central to establishing a strong, flexible, and secure energy system.
The document highlights that Europe’s rising dependence on electricity, particularly from variable renewable sources, leads to operational challenges and risks that the current infrastructure cannot manage effectively. To avoid future major outages and lessen the reliance on imported fossil fuels, Hydrogen Europe proposes a more diversified approach, positioning hydrogen as a key element of the energy transition.
The report calls on the European Commission to reform energy market design to prioritize sustainability and resilience. This includes permitting state aid for clean, non-fossil capacity options and incorporating environmental performance in capacity mechanisms. Additionally, creating strategic reserves of clean hydrogen, especially in countries reliant on imports, is suggested as a practical measure to enhance supply security while fostering developing hydrogen infrastructure.
The paper also advocates for a Hydrogen Grid Action Plan that aligns with similar initiatives in the electricity sector, ensuring hydrogen networks are developed with specific targets, planning tools, and regulatory coordination. This planning should integrate electricity, gas, and hydrogen systems to maximize flexibility, alleviate infrastructure pressure, and reduce overall system costs.
Moreover, Hydrogen Europe proposes an EU-wide Energy Storage Action Plan with long-term targets extending to 2050, highlighting hydrogen’s unique capacity for large-scale, long-duration storage. The report asserts this will be crucial for balancing intermittent renewable energy and ensuring a stable supply throughout the seasons.
Ultimately, Hydrogen Europe’s message is clear: clean hydrogen is not merely a tool for decarbonization, but also for enhancing resilience. By promoting domestic production, expanding infrastructure, and incorporating hydrogen into comprehensive system planning, Europe can safeguard itself from political upheavals and technical failures while hastening its journey toward climate neutrality.
The document highlights that Europe’s rising dependence on electricity, particularly from variable renewable sources, leads to operational challenges and risks that the current infrastructure cannot manage effectively. To avoid future major outages and lessen the reliance on imported fossil fuels, Hydrogen Europe proposes a more diversified approach, positioning hydrogen as a key element of the energy transition.
The report calls on the European Commission to reform energy market design to prioritize sustainability and resilience. This includes permitting state aid for clean, non-fossil capacity options and incorporating environmental performance in capacity mechanisms. Additionally, creating strategic reserves of clean hydrogen, especially in countries reliant on imports, is suggested as a practical measure to enhance supply security while fostering developing hydrogen infrastructure.
The paper also advocates for a Hydrogen Grid Action Plan that aligns with similar initiatives in the electricity sector, ensuring hydrogen networks are developed with specific targets, planning tools, and regulatory coordination. This planning should integrate electricity, gas, and hydrogen systems to maximize flexibility, alleviate infrastructure pressure, and reduce overall system costs.
Moreover, Hydrogen Europe proposes an EU-wide Energy Storage Action Plan with long-term targets extending to 2050, highlighting hydrogen’s unique capacity for large-scale, long-duration storage. The report asserts this will be crucial for balancing intermittent renewable energy and ensuring a stable supply throughout the seasons.
Ultimately, Hydrogen Europe’s message is clear: clean hydrogen is not merely a tool for decarbonization, but also for enhancing resilience. By promoting domestic production, expanding infrastructure, and incorporating hydrogen into comprehensive system planning, Europe can safeguard itself from political upheavals and technical failures while hastening its journey toward climate neutrality.