European Commission executive vice-president Frans Timmermans agrees that accelerating permitting is a top priority
Permitting and regulation still a challenge for EU hydrogen
Complex regulatory environment slowing development of projects, industry players tell conference
Europe’s permitting and regulatory framework is one of the biggest hurdles to hydrogen projects, senior industry executives told the recent World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam. “On the regulation side and legislation, we have our Renewable Energy Directive, the delegated acts, and [the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism]—you name it. Somehow in Europe, we are world-class [in making] it really complex and difficult for both customers and producers,” says Axel Wietfeld, hydrogen CEO at Germany’s Uniper. “We know how to handle hydrogen safely and we want to make sure it is widely accessible for use” Wietfeld, Uniper “And our experience is it just takes so long, the application process it
Also in this section
17 January 2025
Bank’s UK arm signs first deal to finance a green hydrogen developer, but cost and offtake pressures mean the sector remains too risky for many lenders
15 January 2025
The country’s technology-neutral position and competitive business environment mean it is looking to be surfing the second wave of the energy transition while others are still grappling with the first
14 January 2025
With abundant wind and sunshine, Africa is poised to lead in green hydrogen production. Yet high costs and financing challenges require global partnerships to unlock the continent's potential
14 January 2025
The continent’s largest economy sees an opportunity to join the global export market, but funding gap and lack of regulatory framework present challenges
