HYDROGEN 4 EU
Charting pathways to enable net zero
The Hydrogen for Europe study is the result of a cross-sectoral, technology neutral research project charting potential pathways for hydrogen to contribute to the EU’s goal of net zero GHG emissions. Applying innovative and proven modelling, the study supports the realisation of EU targets for 2030 and 2050 by assessing which mix of hydrogen technologies can best contribute to the EU’s current and future energy landscape – and what support is needed to enable this.
KEY FINDINGS
Hydrogen plays a key role in unlocking renewable energy integration.
European hydrogen production and use can grow dramatically, with both low-carbon and renewable hydrogen necessary to enable a fast, lower risk and more cost effective pathway to net zero. A mix of hydrogen types will be needed regardless of the policy path chosen.
Ambitious decarbonisation targets raise European hydrogen demand up to three times higher than the EU's Hydrogen Strategy objectives.
A stronger renewable push represents a total system cost of an additional 70 billion per year compared to a technology diversity scenario.
The uptake of both renewable and low-carbon hydrogen requires the simultaneous development across the value chain, with policy support required to spur the investments needed to unlock hydrogen’s full potential.
The development of the hydrogen value chain relies on a dedicated energy
infrastructure that includes transport and distribution of hydrogen, storage
and refuelling options, and connects supply and demand.
Facts & Figures
+100 Mt
Driven by policy, demand for hydrogen could exceed 100 million tons (Mt) of H2
by 2050.
+50%
More than half of total gross final energy consumption will be supplied by non-electrified technologies in 2050, such as low-carbon hydrogen and biomass.
15%
Nearly 15% of the hydrogen needed in the transition to net-zero emissions could be imported from outside Europe.
Partners
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