Hydrogen will be critical for the future European economy, particularly for the storage and transmission of renewable energy, EU climate chief Frans Timmermans stated before the European Parliament.
Timmermans told the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, “I absolutely believe in green hydrogen as the driving force behind our future energy system”.
“Hydrogen will be a significant part of our future economy,” he said during a panel discussion that included the effect of the Ukraine conflict, the status of new European climate laws, and food security.
Strategic Partnerships
The discussion took place in the wake of Russia’s suspension of gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, as the EU strives to reduce Russia’s reliance on fossil resources.
Meanwhile, according to Timmermans, Europe would need to import more liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas via pipelines from foreign partners. He stressed that this should come from as many different countries as possible so that the EU does not become overly reliant on one.
However, many suppliers want to sign long-term contracts for fossil gas, which is an issue. They do realize, however, that as decarbonization and renewable energy production proceed, Europe’s need for natural gas is expected to fall.
According to Timmermans, the European Commission is promising long-term partnerships that begin with LNG supplies and “end in the hydrogen economy.”
“Is that an LNG bond?” “Not if we provide long-term collaborative hydrogen initiatives,” he stated.
Timmermans sees a Mediterranean hydrogen economy in which each nation is interdependent and has a “part in the production, delivery, and use of green hydrogen.”
Timmermans stated, “This is the future.” “By doing so, you also increase the geopolitical system’s stability.” You are providing Africa with a fantastic possibility for growth in this way.”
When it comes to future renewable hydrogen supplies, the EU is already looking beyond its boundaries. Germany, in particular, is attempting to form alliances with nations such as Australia and North Africa.
While Europe has “difficult relationships” with nations like Egypt and Turkey, Timmermans claims that these countries will generate renewable energy “far in excess of their own demands.”
Timmermans believes that renewable energy electricity should be transmitted via cables from Europe’s partners to the EU. Where this is not practicable, however, the energy might be stored in hydrogen or ammonia and delivered to Europe.
This would also bring additional green hydrogen into the EU, helping to decarbonize hard-to-electrify industries like aviation and heavy industry.
Europe will “never be able to manufacture enough hydrogen on its own,” according to Timmermans.
The European Commission prefers green hydrogen, which is derived from renewable energy, while blue hydrogen, which is made from fossil gas and has its emissions lowered by carbon capture and storage, would also be a time-limited choice.
The magnitude of future hydrogen imports is a point of contention among EU nations.
The EU has long been a net importer of energy, with much of its oil and gas coming from Russia or the Middle East. Some nations are concerned that as Europe’s industry decarbonizes, it will become increasingly reliant on imported hydrogen.
Innovation
Timmermans also cautioned legislators that the European energy grid must be modified to accommodate the development of renewable energy while also smoothing out its oscillations. Smart networks, which enable power to flow in both ways and absorb peak demand, as well as more storage choices like batteries, hydrogen, and ammonia, are among them.
Timmermans believes that the electrolysis process, which produces hydrogen from water and energy, must be improved.
“The argument that the hydrogen economy won’t work until you address the grid and storage problem is straightforward,” he stated. “You’re creating a lot of power in locations where you don’t need it.”
“So you have to get the energy where you need it, and part of it will be pure electricity, but some of it will be turned into hydrogen or ammonia or a combination of things through electrolysis.”
Others, on the other hand, are less optimistic about the hydrogen future. Niels Torvalds, a centrist MEP, warned of a “hydrogen frenzy” in Europe during the conference, citing stories of hydrogen leaks and its impact as a greenhouse gas.
According to research conducted by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, hydrogen is six times worse for the environment than CO2 over a 100-year period.
“I think we need to re-evaluate what we can achieve in the hydrogen energy sector,” Torvalds told Timmermans, “because currently, I feel like we’re slipping into a fantasy of what hydrogen can do for us.”
The European Commission provided an overview of a proposal to make Europe self-sufficient in Russian fossil resources long before 2030 on March 8, 2022.
Accelerating hydrogen production and consumption is the second-largest contribution, after importing LNG. In 2030, the Hydrogen Accelerator aims to create 20 million tons of hydrogen, with 10 million tons produced in Europe and 10 million tons imported. When compared to the Fit for 55 hydrogen objective for 2030, the 20 million ton hydrogen goal is almost a factor of four greater.
But how will the Hydrogen Accelerator objective be met in eight years? This is a massive challenge that will need new, ambitious EU-wide measures and policies. Proposals for a new set of EU-wide activities and policies are provided in the discussion paper “How to Deliver on the EU Hydrogen Accelerator.” Ad van Wijk, Kirsten Westphal, and Jan Frederik Braun wrote the study, which was published by Hydrogen Europe and backed by the African Hydrogen Partnership (AHP), Dii Desert Energy / Desertec3.0, H2Global Foundation, EUGCC Clean Energy Technology Network, and MENA hydrogen Alliance.
The following are some of the proposed acts and policies:
• ‘Bootstrapping’ the European hydrogen system by establishing the necessary hydrogen infrastructure and storage capacity before scaling up supply and demand.
• Creating a European Cross-Border Hydrogen Infrastructure and Storage Facility (additional to those of Member States).
• Developing hydrogen demand by converting gas infrastructure to hydrogen infrastructure in each geographic region.
• Establishing a temporary Global European Hydrogen Facility to promote domestic green hydrogen generation and import.
• Setting up a Europeanized H2Global instrument as part of the Global European Hydrogen Facility.
