When presenting the priorities of the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union to the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) on Thursday, 16 July, German Federal Minister of Economics and Energy Peter Altmaier emphasised the role of Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI), especially with regard to hydrogen, several times.
In his opinion, the IPCEIs - projects that bring together companies from several Member States in fields that are considered essential for economic growth, job creation, and competitiveness in the EU - are one of the ways to join “forces” from different EU countries at a time when it is crucial to remain “united” in the face of the consequences of Covid-19.
Moreover, this will, in his view, help to mobilise the investments needed to create European industrial champions.
By virtue of Article 107 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), projects that receive IPCEI status then become eligible for public aid, without this being considered as undermining the internal market.
Praising the progress of the [European] Battery Alliance (see EUROPE 12490A16), he reiterated the German presidency’s intention to develop IPCEIs in other sectors: 5G, quantum technology, and (of course) hydrogen, with the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance (see EUROPE 12524/5).
On this last point, several MEPs questioned Mr Altmaier on the role he sees for blue hydrogen—hydrogen produced from fossil sources using carbon capture—and, more broadly, the role of natural gas.
Following the example of what the European Commission proposes in its hydrogen strategy (see EUROPE 12523/1), he advocated a phased approach.
In his view, it is clear that it will take several years for green hydrogen alone—hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable sources—to be able to meet the enormous energy needs of sectors such as the steel, chemical, and aviation sectors, while ensuring the security of energy supply.
Therefore, he felt that blue hydrogen and, thus, natural gas constitute interesting transition technologies, provided that decarbonisation is achieved at the end of the process via CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technologies, taking Norway as an example in this field.
Finally, the German minister also emphasised the importance of supporting SMEs, which “are key drivers of the European economic and innovative power [and] have an essential role to play in the economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic”, while stressing the need to “make Europe greener, more digital”. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)