On the initiative of the German Federal Government, experts from throughout Europe jointly identified the most pressing issues of research and innovation on green hydrogen at European level and compiled them in a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). The project was coordinated by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Today, the SRIA has been presented to the Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen at the BMBF, Stefan Kaufmann. The Agenda provides the basis for launching concrete steps towards implementation at a hybrid conference on 16 and 17 May.

Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger explained:

“Climate change is a huge challenge for humanity. I am therefore delighted that experts from many European countries participated in the development of a common European Research and Innovation Agenda for Green Hydrogen. When combatting climate change, we want to focus on technology instead of lifestyle change. We must therefore accelerate the development of climate-neutral technologies and market-ready innovations. As a ministry which promotes opportunities we are funding technologies for a climate-neutral Europe. Green hydrogen is a key element in this context. At the same time, it is essential in ensuring a future-proof energy supply which makes us less dependent on Russian energy in the long term. This is why we want to make green hydrogen competitive. The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda is to serve as a nucleus on the way towards a European Hydrogen Union. The Agenda Process on Green Hydrogen is thus also a blueprint for future broad-based initiatives of the Member States in an advanced, more dynamic European Research Area. This is important because only by working together can we achieve our climate goals.”

Simona Kustec, Slovenian Minister of Education, Science and Sport, said:

"The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda is an important step towards to the development of the European Hydrogen Union. Our goal is to make Europe a climate-neutral continent. Working together is key for our future, especially now that we are facing a war in Ukraine and a climate crisis. That is why this mutual strategic plan is so important. It contributes to higher energy independence, sustainable energy use and to make energy more affordable for the whole Europe. Moreover, the plan represents a contribution to the transition to clean energy and to European independence from unreliable suppliers and problematic fossil fuels. By working together, cross-sectorally and intergovernmentally, the Member States will achieve the desired goal, the European hydrogen economy, which will meet today's biggest challenge."

Manuel Heitor, Portuguese Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, said:

“Green Hydrogen systems are critically important to facilitate a carbon-neutral and resilient Europe, but they do require new knowledge and a clear understanding of forms of institutional innovation across research institutions and public and private organizations, including traditional energy operators, new energy-disruptive firms and energy users at large. Deepening our knowledge of H2 chemistry, as well as designing and promoting new research and innovation infrastructures for testing and proofing new concepts of green hydrogen, together with the development of new equipment, require a common agenda throughout Europe, to be implemented together with innovative distribution lines and energy-usage paths. Examples include the development of new solar energy generators, coupled with disruptive electrolysers and/or new storage equipment (e.g. making use of molten salt), together with fuel cells to generate electricity to be fed into the electric grid, such as those being tested and used in the South of Portugal in the context of strong European partnerships. The common European Research and Innovation Agenda on green hydrogen published today will certainly contribute to broaden, accelerate and further promote existing capacity and leading projects throughout Europe towards a Sustainable European Hydrogen Union and a climate-neutral and resilient Europe.

The European Commission stated:

“Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the Commission and Member States are working on joint actions for affordable, secure and sustainable energy in order to re-power the EU, drastically accelerate the clean energy transition and increase Europe's energy independence from unreliable suppliers and volatile fossil fuels. It is clear that joint actions on accelerating the European hydrogen economy play an important role in this transition and therefore the common Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda on green hydrogen published today is more relevant than ever. Only by joining forces and working together across borders, governments and sectors in a European Research Area, we can deliver the impact that our citizens need and deserve”.

Background

The European Agenda Process on Green Hydrogen is a pilot initiative of the new European Research Area (ERA) which was adopted during the German Council Presidency in 2020 as part of the reorientation of the European Research Area (ERA) and on which Germany worked closely with its Trio partners Portugal (first half of 2021) and Slovenia (second half of 2021). The conclusions of the European Competitiveness Council on the new European Research Area of 1 December 2020 called on the Commission and interested Member States to carry out an agenda process for a green hydrogen R&I ERA pilot action in 2021. The development of a green hydrogen R&I ERA pilot action is also part of the European Research Area Policy Agenda 2022 – 2024 action 11 “An ERA for Green Energy Transformation”.  The aim of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), which was developed in close cooperation with the EU Member States and the European Commission, is to accelerate the development of a competitive European hydrogen economy.

 The Agenda Process brings together science, industry, civil society and public administration on a voluntary basis to identify the most pressing needs for research on green hydrogen as an inter- and transdisciplinary community. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) coordinated the Agenda Process which involved experts from 27 European countries. They gathered ideas and questions in initial drafts and worked over several months to draw up coordinated position papers. Industry, science and civil society participated via a Europe-wide public online consultation process. Austria, Bulgaria, Italy and Germany held thematic workshops in the fields of transport and infrastructures, market stimulation and production to flesh out the identified positions.

Green hydrogen is crucial for decarbonization in major sectors such as the German steel and chemical industries or in aviation, shipping and heavy goods traffic. It is thus a key element of sustainable European transformation. Furthermore, hydrogen technology offers diverse potential for value creation and may develop to become a core business area for the German and European export industry.