Europe faces reality check on hydrogen ambitions

The growing disparity between hopes for hydrogen and real-world implementation will require re-evaluation of policy support and scope

Ambitious hydrogen targets for 2030 are beginning to face questions over feasibility. Key to navigating this landscape are policy regulations, which play a pivotal role in driving down costs and narrowing the focus of hydrogen, thereby enhancing the speed of its deployment. “We always have this phase. This is the initial disappointment after overpromising,” remarked Emmanouil Kakaras, executive vice-president for engineering firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA at the FT Hydrogen Summit 2024. Europe is facing a reality check following this "overpromising", where policy support mechanisms are delayed and the continent grapples with the aftermath of the energy crisis. There is plenty of hype