Permitting and regulation still a challenge for EU hydrogen

Complex regulatory environment slowing development of projects, industry players tell conference

Europe’s permitting and regulatory framework is one of the biggest hurdles to hydrogen projects, senior industry executives told the recent World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam. “On the regulation side and legislation, we have our Renewable Energy Directive, the delegated acts, and [the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism]—you name it. Somehow in Europe, we are world-class [in making] it really complex and difficult for both customers and producers,” says Axel Wietfeld, hydrogen CEO at Germany’s Uniper. “We know how to handle hydrogen safely and we want to make sure it is widely accessible for use” Wietfeld, Uniper “And our experience is it just takes so long, the application process it