Ukrainian Hydrogen Council at the European Hydrogen Week: Innovations and Global Cooperation

Brussels, [20.11.2023-24.11.2023]

Polina Kazakevych, the President of the Energy Association "Ukrainian Hydrogen Council," participated in the European Hydrogen Week held in Brussels. During the event, participants discussed key topics focused on the development of hydrogen energy, including the relevance of regulatory frameworks, industry challenges in decarbonization, and global strategies for leadership in this promising field.

Key events and announcements during the European Hydrogen Week 2023, jointly organized by the European Commission, Hydrogen Europe, and Clean Hydrogen Partnership:

• European Hydrogen Bank: On November 23, the European Commission launched the pilot auction of the European Hydrogen Bank, amounting to 800 million euros. Simultaneously, during the Hydrogen Week, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the second auction in spring 2024 with a budget of 2.2 billion euros, aimed at supporting large hydrogen projects and attracting private capital.

The establishment of the European Hydrogen Bank is a crucial step towards achieving climate stability goals and creating an integral component of a new, sustainable energy paradigm in Europe.

• President von der Leyen reaffirmed the commitment of the European Union to achieve ambitious hydrogen goals. Specifically, she promised to assess the national hydrogen strategies of member states and their implementation by the end of the year. This will help ensure unified and consistent growth of hydrogen capacities. According to EU estimates, achieving the goal of 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen, including production, transportation, storage, and consumption, will require an investment of 471 billion euros.

• Participants of the week also had a unique opportunity to see and test the latest electrolyzer and fuel cell technologies. Vehicles, including hydrogen trucks, buses, and cars, were presented for testing, demonstrating the industry's achievements in practical application.

The European Hydrogen Week is a key platform for international cooperation and strategic initiatives in the hydrogen sector. The event aims to steer the industry towards a greener and more sustainable future, fostering innovation and global cooperation.