EU Faces Hydrogen Market Realities, Says Slovak Experts

EU plans for the hydrogen market are meeting obstacles due to a lack of infrastructure, say Slovak experts.

Unlike the established natural gas system, hydrogen lacks storage, transport, and production facilities. The EU’s new directive aims to integrate renewable gases into the energy system by 2026, but current infrastructure is lacking.

Anna Slavkovská from Nafta highlights the absence of hydrogen storage and transport capabilities. She believes current regulations modeled on the robust gas market are premature for hydrogen. The directive also requires states to develop hydrogen infrastructure, but this is seen as a chicken-and-egg problem similar to electric vehicle adoption, according to Sylvi Angyalová of Eustream.

The EU directive suggests separating hydrogen networks from existing gas networks. However, EY’s Ľubica Ragulat questions the necessity of strict regulations in the emerging hydrogen market. Temporary exemptions from such rules are possible, pending cost-benefit analyses.

Nafta is exploring hydrogen storage testing with green hydrogen while supporting pilot projects.