E&C

Hydrogen Roadmap – Survey for the Call for Evidence

Context

During the ERRIN Energy and Climate Working Group meeting dedicated to developments on Hydrogen policy (16 February 2023), the European Commission announced the publication of a European roadmap on Hydrogen Valleys. This roadmap will support the implementation of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership.

The work on this roadmap kick-started on January 2023 by focusing on the challenges and opportunities for the deployment of hydrogen valleys across Europe (more information is accessible here). Moreover, a series of workshops were organised by DG Research and Innovation in February, leading to the signature of a Joint Declaration on Hydrogen Valleys on 1 March 2023.

The S3 Partnerships on Hydrogen Valleys also released a position paper to consider several domains in this roadmap:

  • Regulatory incentives
  • Building a dedicated projects pipeline and financial incentives
  • Research and innovation, skills and public acceptance
  • Cooperation between Hydrogen Valleys at EU level


ERRIN’s input

The European Commission will soon publish a call for evidence (expected in June 2023 and open for four weeks) to collect further input from multiple stakeholders for the roadmap. In this frame, ERRIN wishes to produce an input paper building on the work of the S3 Partnership on Hydrogen Valleys and collecting ERRIN’s members’ needs, challenges and solutions. The aim of the following questions will be to advocate for a stronger role of regional and local authorities in the development of Hydrogen policies and strategies, including Hydrogen Valleys.

 

We would kindly ask you to answer this survey before Tuesday 4 July.

If you wish to get involved in the drafting process, review the document or any other activities, do not hesitate to contact elena.patatouka@errin.eu and rodolphe.doite@errin.eu.

 

Please describe the main challenges that you face when implementing hydrogen-related strategies or projects. (E.g. engagement of all necessary stakeholders in creating and implementing hydrogen strategies or projects; regulatory barriers; permitting issues; difficulties with partners; using innovative procurement).

Can you already indicate potential solutions or good practices for tackling these challenges? How are you enabling the development and deployment of novel and existing clean hydrogen technologies that aim to the decarbonisation of the buildings, energy, transport, renewables, hydrogen production, storage, distribution and end-use.
Through the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, more funding will be available for hydrogen-related projects, including Hydrogen Valleys. Have you used the current funding calls/instruments (e.g. the funding dedicated to large-scale and small-scale hydrogen valleys)? Are they targeted for local authorities’ needs and why? What type of activities should the future funding support (your funding needs)? 
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership is led by industry and the Hydrogen Valleys are focusing on hydrogen infrastructure. At the same time regional and local authorities have an important facilitator role when it comes to mobilising the various stakeholders around hydrogen. What role should regions have in the Clean Hydrogen Partnership? What actions are needed to strengthen that role?

More broadly, how should regional and local authorities and their ecosystems be better integrated in the Hydrogen related policy and funding frameworks? 
Does your region already have a dedicated roadmap or a strategy for tackling hydrogen? Or is hydrogen part of your smart specialisation strategy or local/regional energy and climate plan? Can you please share the main objectives and actions of the strategy/plan aiming to promote the Hydrogen ecosystem in your geographical area? Is your national government encouraging and supporting the development of such strategies/plans?
The roadmap is expected to be solution oriented. We would like to add concrete examples and use cases to our input paper to showcase the role of regional authorities in hydrogen development on their territories. Please provide a short description of your example.