The European Union intends to set rules for hydrogen trade with Morocco and Ukraine, as part of plans to use low-carbon fuels to reduce emissions, the EU Energy Commissioner said on Monday.
“We need proper regulations for reliable cross-border trade in renewable and low carbon hydrogen,” said Kadri Simson.
The EU will also include hydrogen on its energy talks with the US, Japan and South Korea, Simson said.
In its hydrogen strategy, published in July, the European Commission set targets to expand hydrogen production and use projects to meet the EU's 2050 zero emissions target.
By 2024, the EU aims to receive 6 gigawatts (GW) of hydrogen power from wind and solar power and 40 GW by the end of the decade for use in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize or where it is difficult to electrify, including the chemical industry and manufacturing steel.
German Minister of Economy Peter Altmeier recalled Germany's allocation of 2 billion euros for international sources of hydrogen, announced in its national strategy adopted in June.
“We are looking at regions with high solar intensity and wind speed,” he said, naming parts of Asia and Africa, the Middle East and South America. He said there are two trade agreements under discussion.
Siemens Energy CEO backed import strategies, while Danish wind company chief Orsted said the transformed offshore wind industry could also be a source of large-scale hydrogen flows.
