Looking beyond the technological deployment of the European hydrogen economy, this report aims to identify cross-cutting issues and key aspects that will support a rapid uptake. In support of the TWG Hydrogen the CSA analysed various non-technological issues and identified five key topics for the deployment of a renewable, low-carbon hydrogen economy. This helps to align and coordinate national efforts ensuring that the objectives of the SET Plan are achieved in a sustainable way and on-time.
- The first aspect focuses on collaboration and communication. To accelerate the uptake, there needs to be closer collaboration between industry, research, and regulatory and policy makers. This will support the joint establishment of clear, long-term, realistic, and holistic decarbonisation pathways and help to identify unnecessary regulatory and trade barriers.
- Another proposal involves targeted educational and training programmes for universities and industries to foster knowledge and skills exchange throughout the entire renewable and and low-carbon (R-LC) hydrogen value chain.
- To accelerate market uptake, it is crucial to identify new business models in existing and emerging application areas and to realistically estimate the demand for R-LC hydrogen.
- Reliability is also key to building trust in new and emerging technologies. The report recommends monitoring research activities on the traceability of R-LC hydrogen (e.g. using blockchain technology, the Internt of Thins (IoT) etc.) to support the development of a harmonised certification and guarantee of origin scheme, and prevent greenwashing.
- Lastly, the development of hydrogen infrastructure in EU-partnering developing countries and regions needs to be promoted as well as R-LC hydrogen technologies stimulated, especially in hard to abate industries. While many issues play an important role in accelerating the deployment of the European hydrogen economy, the aspects of a socio‐economic, regulatory or other nature identified here are key to achieving the targets of the SET Plan.
We would like to invite you to give us your perspective and provide feedback on our analysis. A discussion surrounding the priorities of the market uptake will greatly benefit the activities of the TWG Hydrogen. The five key aspects identified in the report (Deliverable 5.1) will inform the activities of the Temporary Working Group (TWG) Hydrogen. The Key Aspects Report is available for download here.