Signifying a change in tide over recent years, the panellists in the session reflected on the volume of national hydrogen strategies having now in place.

Laura Droste, Expert for Hydrogen and Synthetic Energy Carriers at the Germany Energy Agency (DENA) told the delegation that three years ago, there were just three national hydrogen strategies, however, today 44 are in place.

Despite the clear appetite for hydrogen among governments, Droste noted that more needs to be done globally, saying, “It’s a good start to create a market for hydrogen, but we still have room for improvement.”

That sentiment was shared by Thomas Herbet, Director Market Development and Public Affairs at Nel, who said that although the releases of more strategies is positive, it is time to implement them. “Ambitions are great but now we need to implement them,” said Herbert.

Herbert told the expo that the Inflation Reduction Act in the US, which offers up to $3 per kg of low-carbon hydrogen production in tax credits should come as an example to Europe, explaining that a recent 200MW electrolyser order to Nel from a US company, was as a result of the landmark Act.

Read more: Win for hydrogen in the US – Inflation Reduction Act to become law

Implementation of strategy came as a hot topic throughout the session, with Droste saying that the hydrogen market is currently focusing heavily on R&D projects, and that governments need to push towards getting projects on the ground to support hydrogen production and technologies.

Pieter de Jong, Programme Manager Offshore Hydrogen at RWE Renewables stressed the need for national authorities to understand of is necessary for the industry’s success as they run their legislation.

de Jong told the session, “We need designated areas, we need regulation around transport, transport itself, and of course, we also need to support how any support from government will look.”

With the European Commission having set the target to produce 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen domestically by 2030,  Herbert said that in order to put pressure on governments to follow through on their hydrogen ambitions, EU member state targets should be made binding, to ensure the industry can achieve full realisation.

“Make these targets binding. Make sure there are consequences for member states that don’t deliver on those targets,” he said. “That is one building block for security on the demand side for electrolyser manufacturers.”