By yeckingo1 on Skatehive
Europe is accelerating its shift away from natural gas toward hydrogen as a cornerstone of its decarbonization strategy. Driven by the REPowerEU plan and the European Green Deal, the EU aims to produce 10 million tonnes (Mt) of renewable hydrogen domestically and import another 10 Mt by 2030. This ambition seeks to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, enhance energy security, and cut greenhouse gas emissions in hard-to-abate sectors. Natural gas has long powered European industry, heating, and power generation. However, geopolitical tensions, particularly the reduction in Russian pipeline supplies since 2022, have exposed vulnerabilities. EU natural gas consumption has already declined significantly—by about 18% in 2023 compared to the 2017-2021 average—thanks to efficiency measures, milder weather, and a pivot to LNG and renewables. Hydrogen offers a cleaner alternative: it can be produced via electrolysis using renewable electricity (green hydrogen) or from natural gas with carbon capt