Hydrogen Europe has released its latest position paper, “Hydrogen for an Energy Resilient Europe”, calling for a paradigm shift in the EU’s approach to energy security. As Europe faces increasing exposure to geopolitical disruptions and technical vulnerabilities—exemplified by the Iberian Peninsula blackout in May 2025—the report argues that clean hydrogen must play a central role in building a robust, flexible, and secure energy system.

The paper stresses that Europe’s growing dependence on electricity, especially from variable renewable sources, creates operational challenges and risks that the current infrastructure is not fully equipped to handle. To prevent future large-scale outages and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, Hydrogen Europe advocates for a more diversified approach—one that treats hydrogen as a strategic pillar of the energy transition.

Among its core messages, the report urges the European Commission to adapt energy market design frameworks to prioritise sustainability and resilience. This includes allowing state aid to support clean, non-fossil capacity options and integrating environmental performance into capacity mechanisms. Additionally, the creation of strategic reserves of clean hydrogen—particularly in countries dependent on imports—is presented as a practical way to enhance security of supply while supporting emerging hydrogen infrastructure.

The paper also calls for a Hydrogen Grid Action Plan to mirror similar efforts in the electricity sector, ensuring hydrogen networks are developed with clear targets, planning tools, and regulatory coordination. Such planning should be integrated across electricity, gas, and hydrogen systems to maximise flexibility, reduce infrastructure strain, and lower overall system costs.

Furthermore, Hydrogen Europe recommends the establishment of an EU-wide Energy Storage Action Plan, setting long-term targets through 2050 and recognising hydrogen’s unique potential for large-scale, long-duration storage. This, the report argues, will be essential to balance intermittent renewable energy and ensure stable supply across all seasons.

Ultimately, Hydrogen Europe’s message is clear: clean hydrogen is not just a decarbonisation tool—it is a resilience tool. By supporting domestic production, scaling up infrastructure, and integrating hydrogen into broader system planning, Europe can protect itself against both political shocks and technical failures, while accelerating the path to climate neutrality.