European Court of Auditors calls for clarity and realism in EU renewable hydrogen industrial policy

According to a report by the European Court of Auditors, the EU has only partially succeeded in laying the foundations for the emerging renewable hydrogen market. Despite various positive actions taken by the European Commission, issues persist throughout the hydrogen value chain, and it is unlikely that the EU will meet its 2030 targets. The Court, therefore, urges a reassessment to ensure that the Union's goals are realistic and that strategic choices do not compromise the competitiveness of key industries or create new dependencies.

The report "EU Industrial Policy on Renewable Hydrogen - The Legal Framework is Largely in Place: Time to Take Stock" by the European Court of Auditors highlights that renewable or "green" hydrogen can have significant implications for the future of essential Union industries, as it can help decarbonize sectors that are difficult to electrify. It can also assist the EU in achieving its climate goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and further reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

However, several significant challenges threaten the sector's development. Among these, according to the European Court of Auditors, is the fact that the Commission has set overly ambitious targets for the