On Tuesday 18 September, during their informal meeting in Linz, Austria, European energy ministers adopted a declaration aimed at maximising the great potential of hydrogen technology, in order to “decarbonise” several sectors. They took stock of the electricity market issue.
With the “Hydrogen Initiative”, the signatory states (25 including Switzerland at this stage) “undertake to continue research and investment in the production and use of hydrogen as a forward-looking technology”, commented the Austrian minister, Elisabeth Köstinger.
Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action, also commended the initiative saying: “Green hydrogen offers considerable potential for decarbonisation of several sectors (industry, transport, etc.)”.
“Clean energy” package. The Austrian presidency and the European Commission reiterated that they were hoping for a political deal by end December on the “clean energy” package. The debate covered capacity markets in the electricity sector. Köstinger pointed out that several member states have introduced different kinds of capacity mechanisms. “We are also aware of the politically sensitive nature of the subject, especially when it comes to climate protection”, she added. The positions held by member states vary greatly and the Austrian presidency hopes to present compromises offering, on one hand, a safe legal framework and, on the other, the best possible balance between supply security and climate protection.
Miguel Arias Cañete said that capacity markets must respect the working of the internal market. The mechanisms must therefore be coherent in order to avoid market distortion. He trusts there will be measures to “avoid subsidies going to the wrong destinations”.
In addition, Köstinger said that, in Austria, “over 70% of our electricity comes from renewable energy vectors” and that the country is counting on this rising to 100% by 2030.
Hydrogen is one of its promising technologies in terms of energy transport and storage, the Austrian minister stressed. In this statement on hydrogen, the countries undertake to explore the most effective ways to convert renewable hydrogen into synthetic methane and other renewable fuels. (Lionel Changeur)