EU Faces Crossroads on Hydrogen Policy: Renewables Advocates Push Back on ‘Tech-Neutral’ Path

A growing debate is heating up in the European Union over the best path forward for the future of hydrogen production. At the heart of this policy tug-of-war is the Renewable Hydrogen Coalition (RHC), led by Kim Hedegaard from Topsoe Power-to-X and Ana Quelhas from EDP Renewables. Their message is clear: the EU needs to go all-in on green hydrogen—the kind made purely from renewable energy—rather than supporting a so-called “technology-neutral” approach that treats all low-carbon hydrogen equally.

Green hydrogen or all-of-the-above? A key policy crossroads

The RHC isn’t mincing words. They say without clear, binding mandates for green hydrogen by 2030, the EU could fall short of its ambitious climate goals, remain hooked on fossil fuels, and risk losing its edge in renewable technologies. This warning comes as the European Commission ramps up efforts with new programs like the Hydrogen Mechanism and the European Hydrogen Bank, which aim to fast-track various kinds of hydrogen infrastructure across the continent.

The case for neutrality—and the risk it carries

On the flip side, supporters of a neutral strategy say it could help build the hydrogen market faster and bring down costs across the board. But critics of that approach are sounding the alarm. They worry it would open the door to fossil-fueled options like blue hydrogen, which, while “low-carbon” in theory, still release emissions in practice. With the clock ticking toward the EU’s 2030 and 2050 industrial decarbonization targets, the choices made now could shape Europe’s sustainable energy future for decades to come.