The hydrogen industry began the new year with an important meeting with key figures from the European Commission. Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera and Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen met with representatives from leading EU hydrogen associations to discuss hydrogen's critical role in decarbonization and industrial development, as part of the broader Clean Industrial Deal.

During the productive meeting, held on Tuesday, the European hydrogen sector presented three key recommendations aimed at accelerating the clean transition and ensuring the success of the hydrogen ecosystem:

1. Derisking off-takers: The hydrogen sector called for greater support for off-takers, particularly in industries like chemicals, fertilizers, and steel, where hydrogen plays a vital role.

2. Flexible production framework: The industry urged for more flexibility in hydrogen production policies, emphasizing the need for competitive green hydrogen production that can meet market demands.

3. Joint energy system infrastructure: There was a call for a unified energy system, where electricity and hydrogen infrastructure are integrated, rather than operating in silos.

Jorge Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe, highlighted the importance of addressing these challenges to ensure Europe remains competitive in the global hydrogen market. He warned that failure to tackle these issues would risk investment opportunities, decarbonization targets, and Europe's global standing.

“We were aligned that the Clean Industrial Deal needs to be a success, and that anything should be done to make it work under the current conditions. This needs effort, alignment, and a partnership approach starting with lead markets first,” said Chatzimarkakis.

The discussions also underscored the role of hydrogen in key sectors such as fertilizers, steel production, and refineries, where hydrogen is used as a feedstock for processes like desulfurization. These "lead markets" are seen as essential for overcoming the “chicken-and-egg” dilemma in hydrogen production and consumption.

Hydrogen Europe remains optimistic about continuing this dialogue with the European Commission and working together to ensure the success of the Clean Industrial Deal, set to be presented in February. The industry is confident that with alignment and collaboration, these recommendations can help drive the growth of hydrogen as a cornerstone of Europe's energy transition.

As Ribera highlighted in her social media post following the meeting, "Collaborative efforts will be key to driving progress in this area." The momentum from this meeting signals an encouraging start for the hydrogen sector in 2025.