Close Menu
Energy NewsEnergy News
  • NEWS
    • Breaking News
    • Hydrogen
    • Energy Storage
    • Grid
    • SMR
    • Projects
    • Production
    • Transport
    • Research
  • SPOTLIGHT
    • Interviews
    • Face 2 Face
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Reviews
    • Events
  • REGIONAL
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle east
    • Pacific
  • COMMUNITY
  • ABOUT
    • Advisory Board
    • Contact us
    • Report Your News
    • Advertize
    • Subscribe
LinkedIn X (Twitter) YouTube Facebook
Trending
  • Nikola’s Hydrogen Dreams Dissolve as Assets Head to Auction Block
  • EnviaM ‘Green Bridge’ Exit Underscores Challenges for Germany’s Green Hydrogen Plans
  • French Audit Court Warns Hydrogen Strategy Is ‘Ambitious but Unrealistic,’ Flags Funding Misalignment
  • Alleged Climate Lawsuit Funding Sparks Industrial Backlash Amid Hydrogen Policy Tensions
  • China Approves $780M Green Hydrogen Project in Bayannur as Industry Eyes Scale and Storage
  • Fortescue Shifts Focus from Green Hydrogen as Key Executive Departs Amid Strategic Recalibration
  • McPhy Struggles to Attract Buyers Before Liquidation Looms
  • New NEXO Launches Amid Structural Headwinds in South Korea’s Hydrogen Mobility Push
LinkedIn X (Twitter) YouTube Facebook
Energy NewsEnergy News
  • NEWS
    • Breaking News
    • Hydrogen
    • Energy Storage
    • Grid
    • SMR
    • Projects
    • Production
    • Transport
    • Research
  • SPOTLIGHT
    • Interviews
    • Face 2 Face
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Reviews
    • Events
  • REGIONAL
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle east
    • Pacific
  • COMMUNITY
  • ABOUT
    • Advisory Board
    • Contact us
    • Report Your News
    • Advertize
    • Subscribe
Energy NewsEnergy News
Home Home - Europe
Hydrogen Power Plants: Europe’s Ambitious Yet Challenging Path to Clean Energy

Hydrogen Power Plants: Europe’s Ambitious Yet Challenging Path to Clean Energy

Anela DoksoBy Anela Dokso20/05/20243 Mins Read
Share
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email WhatsApp Telegram

In the heart of Europe, a bold vision is taking shape—converting conventional power plants to run on hydrogen, an emissions-free fuel touted as a key to meeting aggressive climate targets.

Currently, a bright yellow power plant behind a graffiti-covered fence burns natural gas to generate electricity. Policymakers envision this plant, and others like it, transitioning to hydrogen. This conversion is seen as a crucial step toward decarbonizing energy systems and achieving net-zero emissions. However, the path to this hydrogen future is fraught with significant technical, economic, and logistical challenges.

Hydrogen is considerably more expensive than natural gas. The infrastructure required to produce, transport, and store hydrogen is not only costly but also complex. For instance, hydrogen must be liquefied at an extremely low temperature of -253°C, far beyond the capabilities of current LNG ships. As a workaround, Germany plans to import hydrogen as liquid ammonia, which is easier to liquefy but poses its own risks due to its toxicity and the need for specialized handling and ventilation systems.

Moreover, converting ammonia back into hydrogen is currently not economically viable, adding another layer of complexity and cost. The efficiency loss in the hydrogen production and conversion process is substantial, with nearly 70% of the energy lost by the time hydrogen is made, stored, and burned to generate electricity again.

There are no measurable advancements in constructing hydrogen-ready power plants. A notable concern is the lack of a standardized definition for what constitutes “hydrogen-ready,” which raises the potential for greenwashing—where companies or governments make misleading claims about the environmental benefits of their operations.

Moving hydrogen also presents significant challenges. The Leipzig plant, for example, isn’t connected to the grid and lacks its own electrolyzers. Consequently, hydrogen must be transported by truck, an inefficient and potentially hazardous solution until more robust infrastructure is developed.

Other countries and companies are also pursuing hydrogen strategies, often with more concrete progress. Companies like Air Liquide and Linde have developed advanced hydrogen storage and distribution technologies, setting high industry benchmarks. The collaboration between policymakers and industry leaders in Europe must strive to match or exceed these standards to achieve their ambitious goals.

The potential environmental benefits of hydrogen are clear—it can help reduce carbon emissions significantly. However, the economic and logistical feasibility remains a sticking point. The substantial initial investment required, coupled with the ongoing operational costs, poses a question of economic sustainability. Germany, for example, is committing €1 billion to a liquefied natural gas terminal designed to eventually handle hydrogen, but this investment must be weighed against the potential economic and environmental returns.

Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Related Posts

hydrogen

EnviaM ‘Green Bridge’ Exit Underscores Challenges for Germany’s Green Hydrogen Plans

11/06/2025
hydrogen

French Audit Court Warns Hydrogen Strategy Is ‘Ambitious but Unrealistic,’ Flags Funding Misalignment

11/06/2025
Green Hydrogen

Alleged Climate Lawsuit Funding Sparks Industrial Backlash Amid Hydrogen Policy Tensions

11/06/2025
McPhy Struggles to Attract Buyers Before Liquidation Looms

McPhy Struggles to Attract Buyers Before Liquidation Looms

10/06/2025
hydrogen

Public Funding Meets Hydrogen Market Reality in Industrial-Scale Electrolysis

10/06/2025
Stargate Hydrogen Opens Electrolyzer Factory in Estonia

Stargate Hydrogen Opens Electrolyzer Factory in Estonia

09/06/2025
Nikola’s Hydrogen Dreams Dissolve as Assets Head to Auction Block

Nikola’s Hydrogen Dreams Dissolve as Assets Head to Auction Block

11/06/2025
hydrogen

EnviaM ‘Green Bridge’ Exit Underscores Challenges for Germany’s Green Hydrogen Plans

11/06/2025
hydrogen

French Audit Court Warns Hydrogen Strategy Is ‘Ambitious but Unrealistic,’ Flags Funding Misalignment

11/06/2025
Green Hydrogen

Alleged Climate Lawsuit Funding Sparks Industrial Backlash Amid Hydrogen Policy Tensions

11/06/2025

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news from the hydrogen market subscribe to our newsletter.

LinkedIn X (Twitter) Facebook YouTube

News

  • Inteviews
  • Webinars
  • Hydrogen
  • Spotlight
  • Regional

Company

  • Advertising
  • Media Kits
  • Contact Info
  • GDPR Policy

Subscriptions

  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Sponsored News

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest news from EnergyNewsBiz about hydrogen.

© 2025 EnergyNews.biz
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Accessibility

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.