Common Futures supported the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) working group of Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) in developing a strategic position paper that sets out how a pan-European hydrogen network can strengthen energy resilience, reduce emissions and support industrial competitiveness.
In this paper, titled “European Hydrogen Backbone: Boosting EU Resilience and Competitiveness”, the EHB working group calls for the timely development of hydrogen infrastructure across Europe. The paper makes the case for an integrated network of pipelines and storage facilities that links hydrogen production and import hubs with demand centres across the continent.
Highlighting the importance of hydrogen infrastructure
Hydrogen infrastructure is a key enabler of Europe’s decarbonisation ambitions and energy system resilience. Pipelines, import terminals and hydrogen storage form the backbone of a connected, cost-effective hydrogen market that can serve multiple sectors. The EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) gets ever more stringent, pushing up the cost of carbon and creating an urgency for industrial sectors to decrease emissions. This makes it increasingly urgent that hydrogen and hydrogen infrastructure infrastructure will be available in time. Public support and coordinated planning are essential to de-risk investment and accelerate deployment before the early 2030s.
Analysing Europe’s hydrogen landscape
Common Futures contributed to the development of this position by analysing recent developments in the European hydrogen landscape, drawing on insights from previous EHB studies. We helped articulate a strategic narrative that links hydrogen infrastructure to the EU’s wider energy, industrial and climate policy goals.
The full position paper is available on the European Hydrogen Backbone website.
