THEhydrogen, the energy source of choice for Europe for long-term diversification, needs a market. To connect supply and demand, the EU has recently launched the hypothesis of a European Hydrogen Bank. There European strategy on the subject it is of great interest to companies and research institutes, but it has not yet achieved (although it is at the beginning) that economic-industrial equilibrium which will make it fully usable.
Production from electrolysis is found in many countries and in some Italian regions. But it's exactly there capacity of electrolysers the point of greatest interest if we want to see production increase. To date the forecasts of investment in machines they fluctuate between 24 and 34 billion euros in ten years. A bank can definitely help to develop non-rigid technologies with marginal economic utility. “We will create a new European Hydrogen Bank that will help secure the purchase of hydrogen, in particular by using the resources of the Innovation Fund,” said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
The new European Bank: with more hydrogen we fight dependence on gas
For two years the studies and development plans of thefree energy in nature they circulate throughout Europe. Around the hydrogen production however, an increase in the production of clean electricity - wind or photovoltaic - is needed, for which another 220-340 billion euros have been estimated. They are to be put in common to have intrinsic and salable energy strength. Without that extra power of energy, machines don't produce.
The timidity of many companies in putting their hands on capital is precisely linked to this mass of investments which have long-term depreciation. The European plan remains ambitious and captivating in general, but also requires the transport, storage and distribution of raw materials. In short, infrastructures to be built from scratch or converted such as pipelines.
What strength will it have European Hydrogen Bank? “It will be able to invest 3 billion euros now to help build the future hydrogen market,” he said von der Leyen. "This is how we power the economy of the future. This is our European Green Deal”. Specific financing channels are being studied in order not to miss the decarbonisation objectives, even more so in the pre-agonizing phase of Russian gas supplies. Thus Europe takes its alternative paths to fossil fuels, they say in Brussels.
Hydrogen: 10 million tons per year by 2030
The Bank will have to block the way to the arrival of more gas. European strategists evaluate with great interest the production of noffshore energy eggs in the North Sea in connection with the future production of renewable hydrogen. Clean sources that feed a carrier that is attractive but not yet competitive due to start-up capital.
For 2030 the EU would like to have into account 10 million tons of hydrogen per year. Evidently as at the time of the birth of the crude oil market, the life of a Hydrogen Bank should be marked by the supply and demand of predominantly "degassed" countries. But those countries must already have the structures ready for large-scale use and distribution. For now, if we exclude the pipelines to be converted, we don't see much.
Italy, just to say, has various activities in progress in companies, in Sardinia, Abruzzo, has projects along the coasts of the Mediterranean, in transport. Intends to use the funds of the PNRR even before the new Bank sees the light. Always - it should be said - that the future government does not re-discuss the strategies and timing of the ecological transition.
