Hydrogen Europe and several other industry organisations have published a joint statement urging EU policymakers to ensure that hydrogen infrastructure is adequately addressed in the ongoing negotiations on the EU Grids Package.

According to the signatories, hydrogen infrastructure will be essential alongside electricity networks in building a more integrated and resilient European energy system, while supporting the bloc’s competitiveness, energy security and decarbonisation objectives.

The organisations are calling for:

• Equal treatment of hydrogen and electricity infrastructure in permitting procedures.
• Recognition of hydrogen infrastructure as being of overriding public interest.
• A stronger framework for hydrogen network planning, storage and cross-border infrastructure.
• Greater coordination between electricity and hydrogen infrastructure planning.
• Stronger support for integrated European energy corridors.

While welcoming the progress achieved in the European Parliament, the industry groups argue that additional action is still needed, particularly regarding the Council’s position, to ensure hydrogen infrastructure can be deployed at the scale and speed required to meet Europe’s energy and industrial ambitions.

Integrated energy planning

Hydrogen Europe Chief Market Officer Daniel Fraile said the EU Grids Package represents an important opportunity to ensure hydrogen networks contribute fully to Europe’s competitiveness, energy security and decarbonisation goals.

“The EU Grids Package is an important opportunity to ensure that hydrogen networks fully contribute to Europe’s competitiveness, energy security and decarbonisation. An integrated plan for hydrogen, electricity and gas grids is key to integrating more renewables at the lowest cost for citizens and businesses,” Fraile said.

He added that without the right provisions for hydrogen within the legislative package, Europe risks missing a significant opportunity to develop a truly integrated and cost-optimised energy system.

The joint statement is intended to support ongoing engagement with EU institutions and Member States as negotiations on the EU Grids Package continue.