Ukraine invasion puts pressure on gas-to-hydrogen switch – Air Liquide
Incentives for switching to hydrogen are growing but more policy support is still needed
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has accelerated the need to transition to hydrogen, according to Dave Edwards, director and hydrogen advocate at French industrial gas company Air Liquide. “It’s made us think about our exposure to natural gas and that shifting to alternatives including hydrogen needs to be accelerated,” he tells Hydrogen Economist, adding that there is an increased focus on sources of hydrogen that do not require natural gas as a feedstock. The additional pressure comes on top of existing drivers for hydrogen demand, including a growing suite of policies and regulations designed to encourage uptake of the fuel. Edwards cites California as an example of a favourable policy enviro
Also in this section
4 February 2026
Europe’s largest electrolyser manufacturers are losing patience with policymakers as sluggish growth in the green hydrogen sector undermines their decision to expand production capacity
2 February 2026
As a fertiliser feedstock, it is indispensable, but ammonia’s potential as a carbon-free energy carrier is also making it central to global decarbonisation strategies
28 January 2026
The development of hydrogen’s distribution system must speed up if the industry is to stand any chance of grabbing a meaningful slice of the low-carbon energy market
14 January 2026
Continent’s governments must seize the green hydrogen opportunity by refining policies and ramping up the development of supply chains and infrastructure






