Pierre-Etienne Franc, CEO of Hy24
EU hydrogen growth stalls on state aid delays
European Commission must accelerate IPCEI approval process to get on track to meet 2030 targets, CEO of leading hydrogen fund Hy24 tells Hydrogen Economist
European Commission delays in granting state aid approval for EU clean hydrogen projects threaten to derail the bloc’s attempt to meet its 2030 targets on expanding production of the fuel, according to Hy24, the world’s largest pure-play hydrogen infrastructure fund. Dozens of projects put forward by member states to receive state aid under a derogation of the EU’s Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) scheme have stalled because they are waiting for clearance by the Commission to receive the funds, says Pierre-Etienne Franc, CEO of Hy24. “It is absolutely critical now for the IPCEI derogation to be enacted,” he tells Hydrogen Economist. “All the projects have stalled. The l
Also in this section
2 December 2025
Oil major cites deteriorating demand and a planning debacle as it abandons one of UK’s largest blue hydrogen projects
1 December 2025
Project at Emden in northwest Germany due online in 2027, but wider ramp-up of clean hydrogen sector in Germany will require overhaul of government policy, company warns
25 November 2025
The northwest African country’s vision of integrating green power, molecules and steel is alive and kicking, and serves as a reminder of hydrogen’s transformative potential
19 November 2025
The creation of ‘lead markets’ to generate hydrogen demand in the EU has potential, but implementation would pose complex challenges for producers and industrial offtakers
