EU aims to increase annual production of green hydrogen to 10 million tonnes by 2030

“Clean hydrogen will have a central place in the climate-neutral economy of the future. And I am very proud of Europe's role as the world's clean hydrogen trailblazer”, Commission President von der Leyen said in her opening speech at the European Hydrogen Week 2021 on Monday.

She noted, that at the beginning of this year, more than 200 new hydrogen projects have been announced globally - 55% of them are in Europe. Also, EU started before the rest of the world to invest in a new generation of electrolysers, designed to be powered by renewable energy.

President added, that because of the current rise in gas prices we all see, green hydrogen today can even be cheaper than grey hydrogen.

“Our target should be to bring the cost below EUR 1.8 per kilo by 2030. And this goal is within reach”.

She stressed, that EU has set the ambitious target to increase annual production of green hydrogen to 10 million tonnes already by 2030.

“We are now supporting this goal by investing in projects that are focused precisely on accelerating the hydrogen uptake. Just weeks ago, for example, we announced seven new projects worth over EUR 1 billion to be financed by our Innovation Fund. If we look at the numbers, more than EUR 30 billion across our Union will go to clean energy investment, of course including, as a big pillar, clean hydrogen.”

One of the highlights of the Hydrogen Week was the launch of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. The Council of the EU has adopted the regulation establishing Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (Clean Hydrogen Partnership) on 19 November.

Clean Hydrogen will build on the success of FCH JU to accelerate the development and deployment of a European value chain for clean hydrogen technologies, contributing to sustainable, decarbonised and fully integrated energy systems. The EU will support the Clean Hydrogen JU with €1 billion euro for the period 2021-2027, complemented by at least an equivalent amount of private investment.

Read the full speech of President Von der Leyen at the opening of the European Hydrogen Week.