The European Commission and CEOs from across the electrolyser industry have signed a joint declaration, whereby the industry has committed to a tenfold increase of its electrolyser manufacturing capacities by 2025. The aim is to enable the annual EU production of 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen by 2030 and accelerate the transition away from reliance on Russian gas.
Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, said: “Clean hydrogen is indispensable to reduce industrial carbon emissions and contribute to our energy independence from Russia. We have no time to lose, which is why this European electrolyser summit is so opportune. Today, the industry agreed to a tenfold increase in electrolyser manufacturing capacities in Europe. The Commission will support this important industrial upscaling for industrial leadership in the clean energy technologies of the future.”
The Joint Declaration sets out a target agreed by electrolyser manufacturers in Europe to increase their manufacturing capacity to 17.5 GW per year. It also features Commission actions to put in place a supportive regulatory framework, facilitate access to finance and promote efficient supply chains.
Among the regulations are commitments by manufacturers to apply only with high-quality project proposals in line with climate targets, the establishment of an ‘Electrolyser Partnership’, and a pledge to integrate the value chain, diversify and tackle dependency of key raw materials and chemicals within the framework of the EU industrial strategy.
It is hoped that these actions will pave the way for large-scale clean hydrogen production in Europe, enabling the decarbonisation of otherwise hard-to-abate industry sectors and transport applications in line with the Fit for 55 objectives, as well as replacing Russian gas.
In cooperation with Hydrogen Europe, the Commission organised this event under the auspices of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance, which brings together 1600 interested parties from industry, public authorities, civil society, and research institutions. Created in July 2020 by the Commission, the objective of the Alliance is to support the large-scale deployment of clean hydrogen technologies by 2030 by bringing together renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production, demand in industry, mobility and other sectors, and hydrogen transmission and distribution. It aims to promote investments and stimulate the roll-out of clean hydrogen production and use.
