A conference held in Estonia, “Offshore energy for e-fuels: advancing the new hydrogen economy”, stressed that low-carbon hydrogen is an important component of the energy transition, but that infrastructure and funding are needed to develop its potential.
In discussing and setting out strategic measures for the development of sustainable hydrogen infrastructure and that of its derivatives, the main focus must fall on funding and end use.
This was the aim of the conference “Offshore energy for e-fuels: advancing the new hydrogen economy”, held in Pärnu, Estonia, on 12 November 2024. The event was organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), with the participation of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Estonia, the Pärnu County Development Centre, the Metrosert Applied Research Centre, Invest Estonia and e-methanol plant developer Power2X.
Sustainable hydrogen for environmentally friendly transport
Green hydrogen and low-carbon hydrogen are essential components of our energy transition, and recent initiatives such as the EU Hydrogen Bank have shown that the sustainable hydrogen market is developing dynamically.
Sustainable hydrogen is particularly important for decarbonising the transport sector and other hard-to-abate industries.
Unlike traditional fossil petrol and diesel, synthetic e-fuels are created using renewable sources, and are produced by combining captured carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide with hydrogen obtained by splitting water using low-carbon electricity sources such as wind, solar and hydropower.
The resulting fuels can serve as substitutes for fossil fuels, delivering low overall carbon dioxide emissions, and they are especially important for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in long-distance freight haulage, maritime transport and aviation.
A call to action
EU and national policymakers have a central role in providing the means needed to put these goals into practice, and they can facilitate cooperation between Member States in adopting effective strategies. They can also facilitate the exchange of best practice aimed at increasing hydrogen production capacity. Such an approach will ensure that the EU hydrogen sector meets environmental and social standards in the future while remaining financially viable.
The rapid roll-out of renewable hydrogen is vital not only for transforming our energy system, but also for the social and economic well-being of the European Union. It is important, however, that we direct our resources wisely. To maximise the impact, we must prioritise hard-to-abate sectors and introduce effective environmental and social standards that guarantee fair and safe working conditions.
Baiba Miltoviča, President of the EESC Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society
Estonia has considerable and untapped potential in renewable energy and biological raw materials. Building a flexible electricity grid and supporting the hydrogen economy is the key to a successful energy transition, as it will allow value to be created despite the variability of renewable energy generation.
Peter Daemen, Power2X
Developing the hydrogen economy requires broad dialogue, commitment, partnership and the integration of different areas of expertise and different goals. As in diplomacy, we will need to bring people and countries together to find common ground, and likewise progress requires all stakeholders to move forward in step. That means aligning not only industry and government, but also winning public trust and encouraging people to support this transition.
Sander van der Sluis, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Estonia
The joint conclusions of the conference will shortly be published on the EESC website; they will include the messages and requests of all participants, which will be communicated to the EU institutions, in particular the European Parliament, the European Commission, the European Council and the European Committee of the Regions.