Hydrogen lobby presses EU to keep national green fuel goals
The European hydrogen industry group has written to the European Commission urging it not to drop national green hydrogen targets in the revised Renewable Energy Directive. The letter argues that such targets are essential for scaling up production and meeting climate goals.
The letter, sent to the EU executive on Thursday, comes as the bloc prepares revisions to its Renewable Energy Directive. The industry group argues that national-level green hydrogen targets provide the regulatory certainty needed to attract investment and build out production capacity at scale. Without these binding goals, the letter warns, the EU risks falling short of its broader climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. The directive's revision process has drawn intense lobbying from energy sectors, with hydrogen producers seeking to lock in demand signals that would justify costly electrolyser projects and supporting infrastructure. The group's intervention highlights growing anxiety among clean fuel developers about policy backtracking as the Commission balances industrial competitiveness against decarbonisation timelines.
The outcome of this lobbying effort could shape Europe's clean energy trajectory for years. If national green hydrogen targets are dropped, project developers may delay investment decisions, potentially slowing the region's transition away from fossil fuels. This affects utilities, industrial manufacturers, and transport operators who depend on hydrogen supply certainty. Conversely, retaining targets could accelerate infrastructure buildout but may impose costs on member states and consumers. The decision also signals to global markets whether the EU remains a credible leader in climate policy, influencing international investment flows into renewable technologies.