GasNaturally Press Release: EU Strategies on Hydrogen and Energy System Integration

Recognition of gas and its infrastructure is a positive first step, but a more neutral and inclusive approach to hydrogen production and use is needed to achieve optimal energy system integration

Brussels, 10 July 2020

GasNaturally welcomes the adoption by the European Commission of the EU Strategies on Hydrogen and Energy System Integration. These strategies should now be followed by more consistent and technology neutral regulatory and financial frameworks to drive the integration of renewable and low-carbon gases, and to support true energy sector coupling.

GasNaturally President, Marco Alverà, commented: “We support the intention to scale up hydrogen production to help the continent reach its decarbonisation targets. In this process, gas resources and existing infrastructure will play a pivotal role, as shown by the blending of hydrogen into gas networks, which has already begun”.

GasNaturally firmly believes that Europe’s future energy system needs to take an integrated, technology-neutral approach to drive the most cost-effective decarbonization. It calls on EU policy-makers to uphold these principles as they roll out the measures listed in the strategies.

Using all clean hydrogen production pathways, the existing gas infrastructure, and scaling-up Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) will help achieve a truly integrated energy system in which energy vectors, notably gas, power and heat, interact with end-use sectors, such as industry, residential, mobility and agriculture.

By calling for a new, holistic approach for both large-scale and local infrastructure planning, the Commission recognizes the key role of existing gas networks for the integration of various energy carriers and to enable hydrogen blending. We recommend the investments in hydrogen infrastructure, both pure hydrogen and blended hydrogen, should be fostered through the EU Taxonomy Regulation and incentives at the EU level.

GasNaturally welcomes the balanced approach taken by the Commission for the governance of the Hydrogen Alliance. It includes the right mix of industry, regions and cities, civil society, and Member States representatives and achieves the right balance.

“The Clean Hydrogen Alliance will now need to pool all clean hydrogen production resources and technologies in a balanced way in order to bring sufficient competition and scale to a sustainable industrial hydrogen ecosystem in the EU,” concluded Marco Alverà.

Press contact: GasNaturally Secretariat, info@gasnaturally.eu