The EU's industrial policy on renewable hydrogen : legal framework has been mostly adopted : time for a reality check; Special report 11, 2024

The Commission set the course for creating a renewable hydrogen market in its Hydrogen Strategy and REPowerEU plan, which included EU targets for hydrogen production and import. Renewable hydrogen is one way to decarbonise, especially for the hard-to-decarbonise sectors of industry. For the 2021-2027 period, total EU funding for hydrogen-related projects is currently estimated at €18.8 billion. We conclude that the Commission was partially successful in creating the right conditions for the emerging hydrogen market and associated value chain. The legal framework has mostly been adopted, but a number of challenges remain. One of our main recommendations is that future strategic choices should be based on a reality check - making strategic choices going forward without creating new strategic dependencies. ECA special report pursuant to Article 287(4), second subparagraph, TFEU.