EU to quadruple hydrogen use to avoid Russian gas

Commission proposes an additional 15mn t/yr of hydrogen before 2030 to replace 25-50bn m³/yr of imported Russian gas

The European Commission has proposed doubling the EU’s target for domestic hydrogen production and dramatically increasing imports as part of a plan to make Europe independent of Russian gas well before 2030. The Commission says full implementation of its ‘Fit for 55' proposals—currently in the legislative process—would lead to 5.6mn t/yr of hydrogen production capacity being built within the region and a reduction in annual fossil fuel consumption of 30pc by 2030. But a new plan—known as RepowerEU—released this week foresees an additional 15mn t/yr of green hydrogen use on top of this 5.6mn t/yr, replacing 25-50bn m³/yr of imported Russian gas by 2030. Of this 15mn t/yr, 5mn t/yr would come