Green Hydrogen is Essential to Reach Green Deal Objectives The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has called on the European Commission to reconsider the role of local and regional authorities for the future functioning of the European Hydrogen Bank.
The CoR has adopted an opinion drafted by Arianna Censi (IT/PES), Councillor for Mobility of the City of Milan, which calls on the Commission to ensure that local and regional authorities are fully involved in the development of the hydrogen economy.
The CoR also stresses that renewable (green) hydrogen should be the only form of hydrogen that is supported by the European Hydrogen Bank. One excellent example of innovation within this field is the green hydrogen generation plant at Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
Building Large-Scale Green Hydrogen Plant at Port of Antwerp-Bruges
American hydrogen company Plug Power will build a 35-tonnes-per-day green hydrogen generation plant at Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium.
The plant will be located at the NextGen District, an area dedicated to companies supporting the circular economy.
The plant will use Plug’s own electrolyzer and liquefaction technology to produce up to 12,500 tonnes per year of liquid and gaseous green hydrogen for the European market.
Construction of the plant will begin upon completion of the permitting process in late 2023. Initial production of green hydrogen is to start in late 2024, and plant commissioning will take place in 2025.
This project is a major step forward in Belgium’s goal of becoming a leader in green hydrogen production. It will also help to reduce Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Local and regional authorities are key stakeholders in the development of the hydrogen economy
The example mentioned above rhymes well with the CoR’s reminder that local and regional authorities are key stakeholders in the development of the hydrogen economy. They are responsible for planning and permitting hydrogen infrastructure, and they can also play a role in developing skills and training for the hydrogen workforce.
The European Commission should heed the CoR’s call and ensure that local and regional authorities are fully involved in the development of the European Hydrogen Bank. This will help to ensure that the hydrogen economy is developed in a way that is sustainable, inclusive, and beneficial to all EU citizens.
Key takeaways:
- Renewable hydrogen is essential to reach Green Deal objectives.
- Local and regional authorities are key stakeholders in the development of the hydrogen economy.
- The European Commission should ensure that local and regional authorities are fully involved in the development of the European Hydrogen Bank.
Source: Committé of the Regions
