MEPs need green hydrogen on their radar from day one

Climate action has been high up the political agenda in the approach to this week’s elections. But there are two sectors that continue to fly under the radar in the bloc’s pursuit of decarbonisation: shipping and aviation.

Aoife O’Leary is Director of the Skies and Seas Hydrogen-fuels Accelerator Coalition (SASHA Coalition)

Accounting for 8% of total EU emissions, these industries haven’t yet seen the collective ambition needed from industry and political actors to drive decarbonisation. The incoming cohort of MEPs will be responsible for both getting the EU to reach its 2030 targets and setting it on course for 2040. So how can they address the challenge posed by aviation and shipping?

By putting green hydrogen on the table from day one.

Hydrogen is incredibly difficult to harness, produced either with fossil fuels or requiring considerable amounts of renewable electricity. The high renewable input requirements means that green hydrogen won’t be the decarbonisation silver bullet that some have suggested. It must instead be prioritised for decarbonisation in the sectors – such as aviation and shipping – that are hardest to electrify.

The EU is already taking steps to stimulate green hydrogen demand from shipping and aviation.

Both ReFuel EU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime mandate that small quantities of green hydrogen will be required by 2030. While these regulations are not currently strong enough to fully decarbonise these sectors, to be reached they will still necessitate significant amounts of green hydrogen and an established synthetic fuel supply chain.

If green hydrogen isn’t high up on the agenda, we risk leaving the shipping and aviation industries unable to adequately contribute to the EU’s ambitious decarbonisation targets.

Failing to focus on green hydrogen also risks missing out on additional benefits beyond decarbonisation. Recent analysis from the Global Maritime Forum found that by 2050 the transition to zero-emission marine fuels could create up to four million jobs worldwide.

And given the nascency of the technologies needed for aviation and shipping’s transition, the EU must act now if it’s to maximise this potential for job creation and green growth.

So, what action must new EU leaders take to decarbonise aviation and shipping? First and foremost, we need them to spearhead cross-sectoral collaboration.

To guarantee a supply of green hydrogen that meets future demand, we need action now to ramp up production across the supply chain, scaling up renewable energy, boosting electrolyser capacity and building synthetic fuel production facilities.

Key stakeholders from across the supply chain must be convened to ensure a cohesive approach. Some processes, such as the Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels Value Chain Industrial Alliance, do already exist, and MEPs must continue to advance such cross-sectoral initiatives while pioneering new routes for collaboration.

The creation of a dedicated intergroup on sustainable shipping and aviation, would help link industry actors with decision makers across issues such as transport, environment, employment, regional development and industry.

Attention must also quickly turn to regulation. With only green hydrogen fuels providing a truly sustainable route to decarbonise shipping and aviation, MEPs must call for stronger regulation to mandate the use of these fuels over less sustainable competitors.

Key technologies will only be able to scale up with policies that provide demand certainty for fuel producers, vessel and aircraft developers and the wider supply chain. MEPs should strengthen already robust frameworks such as Fit for 55 and the 2040 targets within the Green Deal.

Furthermore, research and innovation funds in the current and upcoming Multiannual Financial Frameworks must go towards improving green hydrogen technology and infrastructure.

We are just one generation away from 2050, and it is the next EU mandate’s imperative to get us on track for meeting our climate goals. By taking a two-pronged approach of collaborating with industry across the supply chain and regulating to allocate resources where they are most needed, incoming MEPs can reap the benefits of harnessing green hydrogen for shipping and aviation: fulfilling the 2030 and 2040 emissions targets and creating good, green jobs in the EU.