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AfrElec COMMENTARY AfrElec
estimates, while unabated grey hydrogen is only
EUR1.5/kg. Over the next decade, the EC envis- and use of green hydrogen, but the production
ages carbon capture technology being retrofitted of CO2-neutral hydrogen from natural gas is
to existing hydrogen production. emphasised for the competitive and technolo-
During a third and final stage between 2030 gy-open development of a hydrogen economy,”
and 2050, green hydrogen technologies should the association said in a statement issued after
reach maturity, and be deployed en masse to the strategy was unveiled. “Europe has rec-
reach even hard-to-decarbonise sectors, the EC ognised that electrification alone will not be
said. enough to achieve climate neutrality; hydro-
gen will become the second pillar of the future
Reactions energy strategy and an integral part of the Euro-
The EU also formally established the European pean energy mix.”
Clean Hydrogen Alliance on July 8, consisting Still, others in the oil and gas industry were
of public authorities, industry and civil society, less welcoming of the policy plan.
aimed at creating an agenda for hydrogen invest- While commending the EC for including
ment and a pipeline of projects. blue hydrogen, the International Association of
“Ramping up hydrogen is a future-proof Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) said a more bal-
solution to achieve climate neutrality and pro- anced approach to different hydrogen technol-
vide Europeans with millions of jobs in clean ogies was needed.
technologies made in Europe,” the general sec- “The future basket of implementing meas-
retary of European gas association Eurogas, ures will need to be more realistic and ensure
James Watson, said in a statement this week. that the full range of clean energy solutions
“The European Hydrogen Alliance will make are equally able to play their part,” the group’s
sure that all clean hydrogen technologies – car- regional director for Europe, Francois-Regis
bon capture and storage, pyrolysis, electrolysers Mouton, said.
– are used to kick-start the hydrogen economy “On paper, it is easy to pick winners to pro-
now.” duce large volumes of clean and cheap hydro-
The EC’s inclusion of blue hydrogen con- gen. What is difficult is to get industrial actors
trasts with the hydrogen strategy just adopted by to take on the market, technology and policy
Germany, which is aspiring to be a world leader risks associated with real investments in a global
in hydrogen technologies. Berlin’s policies only competitive landscape,” he said. “The strategies
provide subsidies for hydrogen derived from rely massively on new, hypothetical competitive
renewables. renewable hydrogen imports while forgetting
By acknowledging blue hydrogen’s role, the Europe’s own resources, and its existing strategic
EC’s strategy won praise from German gas asso- energy partnerships which can ensure compet-
ciation Zukunft Erdgas. itive supply of clean hydrogen from natural gas
“It sends a clear signal for the production with CCS or pyrolysis.”
Week 27 09•July•2020 www. NEWSBASE .com P5
