used in industrial processes, especially the coal used to make Will they push for European wide supporting mechanisms to help steel, but in many others too. develop massive use of electrolysis solutions? Huge debates are Such is the urgency that we must also look to rapid regulation in ahead, but critical choices for the Net Zero Horizon. transportation. The hydrogen-fueled systems required to power planes, ships, and trucks are all different, and require individual The use of hydrogen in road transport is certainly practical in approaches. Synthetic kerosene made from hydrogen and theory, especially for high-use fleets of vehicles like buses, taxis, captured CO demands negligible changes to aviation engines,2 and vans, but deployment to individual coaches, trucks, and and could be a quick win, but to power road haulage we need cars requires a comprehensive network of refuelling stations, as not only new trucks, but also new or vastly renewed refuelling the electric-vehicle roll-out showed. That may begin under the infrastructure, and therefore a more complex set of rules and revision of the EU’s 2014 Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Directive, standards. which looks set to include hydrogen refuelling-station targets, but Finally, a significant regulatory package to make Europe’s we lack a model to finance this infrastructure. existing gas grid into a ‘hydrogen highway’ is expected to be It is coming. Following the realization that hydrogen is essential adopted before year-end. to decarbonization, the world’s regulators are already taking the steps necessary for this essential Net Zero tool to pass its THE STATE OF PLAY next great hurdle. They are creating local and international European hydrogen refineries are already governed by helpful frameworks to underpin the scaling-up of Europe’s hydrogen- regulation under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). fueled future. European trucks are already subject to CO standards that will2 help bring hydrogen trucks on the road in a couple of years. Those rules, adopted in 2018, but not yet fully transposed in all Member States, were the first entry point into the use of renewable hydrogen in Refineries. Now, Europe wants to revisit them to increase the level of ambition and to extend them to other hydrogen applications. Hydrogen use in the steel sector is part of the discussion on a carbon border-adjustment mechanism. For aviation fuel, a synthetic kerosene mandate is under consideration. Production of ammonia would be covered by a proposed target for industrial hydrogen consumption. Measures to lower the CO emissions of2 fuels used in the maritime sector are also on the way. Consensus is growing that hydrogen – plus ammonia/methanol made from renewable hydrogen – are shipping’s clean fuels of the future. NEXT STEPS Globally, the easiest win is to replace grey hydrogen in areas such as refining and ammonia for fertilizer production with renewable hydrogen. That will provide a foundation for fast extension of hydrogen use. Ambitious legislative proposals have been made by the Commission in the context of the Fit-for-55 package and in particular in the proposed revision of the Renewable Energy An article by Directive (RED). Proposals to introduce sustainable fuels in aviation NICOLAS BRAHY and maritime are also promising for hydrogen. Are policy makers going to enact regulations to support Cofounder and General Counsel at FiveT Hydrogen, progressive phase out of grey hydrogen solutions? Are they and General Counsel, Public Affairs and ESG Director at Hy24 going to agree, within Europe, on supporting measures for carbon capture solutions to accompany those in the interim time? 45