Oxford – Green Hydrogen Imports into Europe An Assessment of Potential

Green hydrogen is set to play a vital role in the EU's aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Produced through water electrolysis using renewable energy sources, green hydrogen has the potential to avoid significant carbon dioxide emissions globally. With hydrogen currently making up a small portion of the EU's energy mix and being mostly produced from fossil fuels, the European Commission is focused on increasing the production of renewable green hydrogen to meet energy goals and eliminate emissions. The REPowerEU initiative aims to boost renewable energy consumption in the EU, with a target of 10 MT of green hydrogen production domestically and an additional 10 MT from non-EU imports by 2030. To achieve this, the EU plans to invest in clean hydrogen production facilities, establish a European Hydrogen Bank, and support electrolyser manufacturing. Industries like refining, ammonia, and methanol production are already using hydrogen and have potential to switch to green hydrogen. Future demand for green hydrogen in the EU is predicted to increase significantly by 2050, driving the need for infrastructure development and industry transition.