Huge ambitions, weak reality. Hydrogen deployment in the EU falls far short of expectations

The development of hydrogen and its use in the energy sector are nowhere near the targets set by the European Union. In 2024, a total of 308 MW of electrolyser capacity was operating in the EU – only a fraction of the 6 GW target set out in the European hydrogen strategy. The EU is also falling short of its 2024 hydrogen production target.

The reality of hydrogen development in the European Union is significantly lagging behind the ambitious targets the EU set in its hydrogen strategy. Hydrogen is intended to be one of the pillars of the transition to clean energy and a means of eliminating dependence on fossil fuels, especially natural gas.

However, as the latest annual report from the European energy regulator (ACER) shows, hydrogen is in fact still at the very beginning of its development. Since the first targets of the hydrogen strategy were set for 2024, it is easy to compare reality with the stated goals.