A new green hydrogen initiative has been launched in the European Union. A group of 30 European companies have kick-started what they call HyDeal Ambition. A result of 2 years of research and confidential preparation, the project partners are targeting 100% green hydrogen to be delivered across Europe for €1.5 per kg before 2030, 'the same price as current fossil fuels'.
This green hydrogen is to come from 95 GW of solar and 67 GW of electrolysis capacity these partners are planning to set up by 2030. A series of projects and partnerships are currently being launched including several of the 30 participants of the initiative, reads a joint statement. The maiden initiative is expected within a year in Spain, comprising a portfolio of solar sites with a capacity of close to 10 GW.
Through this capacity, the partners aim to produce 3.6 million tons of green hydrogen annually for energy, industry and mobility sectors using gas transmission and storage network.
Members of this ambition are identified as the following:
"To achieve a just energy transition that fosters sustainable industry and skilled employment in Europe, it is necessary to make non-electric renewable energies competitive. In this area, it is important to have efficient energy infrastructures that allow equitable access to green hydrogen throughout Europe," added Enagas CEO Marcelino Oreja.
Green hydrogen is the buzzword for a lot of industries and governments these days as the world tries to tackle the challenge of sustainable energy production for the future. In December 2020 Iberdrola, ACWA Power, CWP Renewables, Snam, Envision, Orsted and Yara launched the Green Hydrogen Catapult initiative aiming for 25 GW renewables capacity based hydrogen production by 2026 to deliver green hydrogen for less than €2.00 per kg (see 25 GW Renewable Hydrogen Production Plans Unveiled).
There are several other green hydrogen powered electrolysis projects being announced in Europe, but the HyDeal Ambition mentions by far the largest capacity for solar and for electrolyzers.
The European Commission (EC) detailed its hydrogen strategy and appointed the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance to implement it. The alliance was announced in March 2020 as part of the commission's new industrial strategy for the European Union. Clean hydrogen can be used as a feedstock, a fuel or an energy carrier and storage. Between 2020 to 2024, it will support installation of a minimum of 6 GW renewable hydrogen electrolysers in the European Union (EU) and the production of up to 1 million tons of renewable hydrogen. And between 2025 to 2030, at least 40 GW of renewable hydrogen powered electrolysers should produce up to 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen (see European Commission Launches Hydrogen Strategy).