The EU hydrogen and gas decarbonisation package: Help or hindrance for the development of a European hydrogen market?

The European Commission has identified hydrogen as a key part of its decarbonisation strategy. The 2022 REPowerEU Strategy set a target of 20MT consumption of renewable hydrogen by 2030. The Commission is keen to promote a single European market in hydrogen, similar to the current one for natural gas. To this end it has published proposals on the regulation of future European hydrogen infrastructure (pipelines, storage facilities and import terminals). The European Council (representing Member States) and the European Parliament are finalising their amendments to the Commission proposals, prior to 'trilogue' negotiations and final agreement later this year. The paper 'The EU Hydrogen and Gas Decarbonisation Package: help or hindrance for the development of a European hydrogen market?' examines the European Commission proposals and their suitability for a developing hydrogen market.