Green hydrogen is a key part of the European Commission’s strategy to cut its dependence on Russian fossil fuels and tackle the climate crisis — but economic conditions are putting projects, and targets, at risk.
From a standing start, Brussels plans to use 20mn tonnes of the clean burning fuel by 2030 under its new energy blueprint, dubbed RepowerEU, which also sets ambitious targets for renewable energy.
However, experts reckon the hydrogen target will be missed unless big projects are commissioned soon — something they say will be increasingly difficult against a backdrop of rising interest rates and possible power outages as Moscow turns the screw on gas supplies.