Today, CEOs from leading European companies, policymakers, and stakeholders gathered in Brussels for the Renewable Hydrogen Summit, a pivotal event for the renewable hydrogen sector. This summit marks the official appointment of new leadership for the European renewable hydrogen sector, represented by the Renewable Hydrogen Coalition.
Key Highlights from the Summit
- Opening Keynote by Ursula von der Leyen: The European Commission President delivered an inspiring keynote, highlighting significant progress in the renewable hydrogen sector. She announced that Europe has seen Final Investment Decisions on over 2 GW of renewable hydrogen projects in the past year, with investments expected to grow by 140% in 2024. Europe is projected to contribute nearly a third of global investments in electrolysers, signaling a robust growth trajectory for renewable hydrogen [1].
- New Leadership: The current coalition chairs from Ørsted and Nel Hydrogen officially passed the leadership to the newly elected co-chairs, Ana Quelhas from EDP and Kim Hedegaard from TOPSOE. They will serve for 18 months, starting January 1, 2025. Ana Quelhas emphasized the need to improve the competitiveness of renewable hydrogen and streamline public funding to close the funding gap [1].
- Challenges and Opportunities: Both Quelhas and Hedegaard discussed the challenges facing the renewable hydrogen sector, including grid congestion and the need for better interconnections. They stressed that overcoming these challenges is essential for making renewable hydrogen affordable and competitive [1].
- Future Goals: The summit underscored the importance of building a competitive renewable hydrogen value chain in Europe. With the right policies, Europe aims to decarbonize and secure its leadership in renewable hydrogen production and technology [1].
Conclusion
The Renewable Hydrogen Coalition plays a crucial role in promoting renewable hydrogen as a key component of the EU’s long-term decarbonization goals. The coalition represents a diverse group of stakeholders, including renewable energy suppliers, innovative start-ups, investors, and industrial off-takers, all dedicated to establishing Europe as a global leader in renewable hydrogen solutions [1].
Suggested Sources
Learn more:
- Summit | Renewable Hydrogen Coalition
- EDP & Topsoe Lead the Charge in Renewable Hydrogen
- EDP and Topsoe become new leaders in the renewable hydrogen sector | edp.com
