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20 May 2022 - Online

Green Hydrogen & Clean Energy Research: Issues at Stake, Ways Forward

In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission launched “REPowerEU”, a proposal to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with gas. The measures put forward are also addressed at tackling soaring energy prices and provide a response to the threat to security of energy supply.

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Green hydrogen is indicated as an integral part of the solution to achieve the expected results. The Commission’s hydrogen strategy published in 2020 called for €470 billion in investment by 2050 and set the goal of producing up to 10 million tonnes of green hydrogen each year by 2030: now, the REPowerEU communication is increasing this ambition by adding a further 15 million tonnes per year. Of these, 10 million tonnes are to be imported and 5 million tonnes produced domestically in the EU. This revised amount would contribute to reducing dependence on imported Russian gas by 25-50 billion cubic metres by 2030.

In addition, REPowerEU aims to bring forward the implementation of the Innovation Fund. This is required to support the switch to electrification and hydrogen, including through an EU-wide scheme for carbon contracts for difference. It will also be crucial to enhance the EU’s manufacturing capabilities for innovative zero- and low-carbon equipment, such as electrolysers.

In this rapidly changing energy environment, key EU policy makers, representatives of industry, civil society and research will discuss in the context of this SUPEERA webinar pressing policy questions with a view of analysing the complexities of the green hydrogen challenges, identifying issues at stake and outlining ways forward. Among those:

  • How much and how fast can this transition happen?
  • How can infrastructure be geared for the change?
  • Is it possible to take an integrated system planning approach or is it too complex to handle?
  • What does the updated EU commitment on green hydrogen mean for the different EU Member States?
  • What are the energy demand side aspects to keep in mind in connection to REPowerEU?
  • What are the main challenges that might create obstacles for implementing the new green hydrogen plan?

The outcome of the webinar will also inform the EERA community with tailored recommendations on concrete research areas and industrial challenges in the specific realm of green hydrogen.


 

20 May - Provisional Agenda

  • 10:00 Introductory remarks - Rosita Zilli, EERA, Senior Policy Officer
  • 10:05 Panel Discussion – Moderator: Adel El Gammal, EERA Secretary General

- European Commission – Luca Polizzi, Policy Officer, DG Research and Innovation, Hydrogen Research and Innovation Policy and Funding at Clean Energy Transition Unit

- European Economic and Social Committee – Pierre-Jean Coulon, former President of the Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN) section and Rapporteur of the EESC Opinion on the Hydrogen Strategy

- EERA – Stephen McPhail, Representative and former co-ordinator, EERA Joint program Fuels Cells and Hydrogen

- Hydrogen4EU project – Gunhild Reigstad, Researcher at SINTEF

  • 11:05 Q&A Session
  • 11:25 Summary & Operational Conclusions - Ivan Matejak, EERA, SUPEERA Project Coordinator

Practical information

Date

20 May 2022

Time

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Contact

Rosita Zilli
EERA