All sources of green energy have their supporters and detractors, but every innovative step to reducing emissions in power generation is worth celebrating.

But hydrogen is also an energy carrier fuelling controversy. More. Join us at BusinessGreen's inaugural Net Zero Festival 2020 – for leaders who won't wait until 2050 to build a better business, and a better world. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.
Nordic states are fighting to protect gender equality during corona crisis, Circularity works, let’s all give it a chance. The Commission said its priority would be to develop green hydrogen, produced by electrolysers powered by renewable energy.

Safeguarding Europe's position starts with recognising the unpleasant reality that Europe's power is waning. The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author's, not those of EUobserver. Become an expert on Europe yourself. It was followed by a letter to the Financial Times by Fatih Birol, executive director of the IEA, recommending that hydrogen should be considered an important element in moving from present energy production and consumption towards CO2-neutral societies by 2050. Message Michelle on Twitter or at michelle@9to5mac.com.

Part of that revenue will go into a fund to incentivize the uptake of fuels like green hydrogen. The European Commission is now considering issuing 'green bonds' for the first ever time, after green groups and other critical voices called for the unprecedented commercial-markets debt to be used on environmental projects. However, he warned the bloc's decision to support fossil fuel-produced hydrogen would hinder climate goals.

"In developing and deploying a clean hydrogen value chain, Europe will become a global frontrunner and retain its leadership in clean tech.". Net Zero Festival 2020 is the world's first business festival dedicated to exploring, advancing, and celebrating the global transition to a net zero emission economy. The shipping industry now has to step up to the emissions-reduction plate in Europe, and it helps to give it the tools to do so. Hydrogen is widely seen as playing a key role in decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial sectors, such as chemicals and steelmaking, and heavy-duty transport, such as freight, buses, and shipping. Watch our editor-in-chief Koert Debeuf explain the reasons in this 30-second video. The European Commission has sent the European Green Deal on its way and a preliminary version of its anticipated hydrogen strategy has been leaked.

So, why is the commission promoting a lose-lose (pay more, get less) strategy rather than the straightforward use of green electricity where it will deliver bigger CO2 reductions and for less money? This is an initiative of the European industry association Hydrogen Europe with the objective to promote a massive increase of electrolyser production within the EU in order to support green hydrogen production. The suggestion has been picked up by the new EU Commission in its recent communication A hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe on 8 July and endorsed by the FT in an editorial.

The explanation is quite simple: conversion of electricity, green or not, into hydrogen implies a loss of +/- 30 percent of the energy content of electricity; and whatever subsequent step taken in making the hydrogen into practical use will imply another 30 percent loss (of the 70 percent energy remaining in the hydrogen), altogether leaving us with +/- half the energy in the original electricity being available for useful purposes. This should not be accepted as a valid argument. It is clear that there will be big money involved in the implementation of the strategy and, unfortunately, with the decision that 30 percent of the Recovery Fund, as well as of the €1 trillion-plus, seven-year budget, will have to be spent in support of climate change there will also be easy money. The European Commission yesterday unveiled its long-awaited hydrogen strategy, outlining its vision to ramp up the EU's renewable hydrogen capacity from 1GW today to 6GW by 2024 and 40GW by 2030. It's time for the EU Commission to get its house in order and close the doors to tobacco lobby influence once and for all. Others have, correctly, pointed out that any use of hydrogen where it will replace fossil fuels is going to imply much higher energy costs for the user, probably by a factor of three to five, depending on the specific cases and future prices on oil and gas. "Creating a hydrogen economy is vital to hit our climate targets and drive forward green, economic growth," he said. We highly appreciate your support and value your feedback.

The green NGOs seem to be mainly preoccupied with the risk that future hydrogen production might to a significant extent be based on natural gas (albeit with Carbon Capture and Storage) rather than on green electricity, a possibility that has activated the anti-fossil-fuel instinct in many NGOs. Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast. Mercedes-Benz reveals surreal footage of EV prototype, Tesla to make two new EVs at Giga Berlin and Shanghai, Behind the scenes look at Jeep's new high power e-bikes, Polestar to bring this cool EV concept to production, You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about. This is not the time for launching a major move into a hydrogen economy. A 'geopolitical' EU Commission. If you have any problems with your access or would like to request an individual access account please contact our customer service team. EU Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans, who presides over the European Green New Deal, has championed hydrogen as a renewable fuel that can easily be integrated into existing energy infrastructure, as opposed to wind and solar which require the construction of new farms and grids. Tara Connelly at Friends of the Earth Europe struck a similar note, arguing that "the Commission has fallen for the fossil fuel industry's hydrogen hype". EU; Green Deal; Hydrogen; Green hydrogen; More on Energy. A 1 MW BeHydro hydrogen-powered motor can supply green electricity to 3,000 families in Belgium. your membership gives you access to all of our stories.

This would apply a carbon price (currently around €25-30 per tonne of carbon dioxide) on all ship voyages via EU ports, from 2022. EU tries to avoid lockdowns as global death toll reaches 1m, Reports: Turkey sent Syrian fighters to Azerbaijan, German presidency tries to end EU's rule-of-law battle, NEW REPORT: Eight in ten people are concerned about climate change, How reducing sugar and calories in soft drinks makes the healthier choice the easy choice, Green energy to power Nordic start after Covid-19. The answer to the first question is 'no', to the second 'yes'. , your membership gives you access to all of our stories. "We support progress across the EU but it's vital that it's matched by action from the UK government. Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO of leading energy company Uniper, said the strategy demonstrated "the growing recognition by the EU and individual countries that hydrogen is vital to accelerating reductions in carbon emissions in order to hit net zero targets". He retired from the European Commission in 2006 and is currently senior consultant for the European Policy Centre think tank. Great idea - but when? This year’s EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) will be held digitally! By 2030, the Commission said the bloc could be producing up to 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen with some 40GW of electrolysers.

This opens up a faster and cheaper decarbonization pathway for the shipping sector and dovetails with the EU (and impending UK) Green Deal strategy that prioritizes green hydrogen. Aug, 08:20. Ecclesiastes (c. 300 BC) wisely reminded us that for everything there is a time .

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However, in a move that sparked criticism from some green groups the Commission confirmed it would also support blue hydrogen, produced using fossil fuels at plants that could be linked to carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems in the short and medium term. Thierry Breton, commissioner for the internal market, said the freshly-formed coalition was "strategically important" for the EU's Green Deal ambitions and "the resilience of the industry".