A conference held in Estonia on strategic actions for the development of sustainable infrastructure for hydrogen and its derivatives, highlighted that low-carbon hydrogen is a key component of the energy transition and can make it happen, but it needs infrastructure and financing to develop its potential.
Organized by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the “Offshore Power for E-Fuels: Boosting the New Hydrogen Economy” conference took place in Pärnu, Estonia on November 12, 2024.
The event brought together the Netherlands Embassy in Estonia, the Pärnu County Development Centre, the Metrosert Applied Research Centre, Invest Estonia, and e-methanol plant developer Power2X.
The rapid deployment of renewable hydrogen is critical – not only for the transformation of our energy system but also for the social and economic well-being of the European Union. However, it is essential that we direct our resources wisely. To maximize our impact, we need to prioritize hard-to-abate sectors and establish effective ecological and social standards that ensure fair and safe working conditions, said Baiba Miltoviča, President of the EESC’s Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society.
Sustainable hydrogen for green transport
Green and low-carbon hydrogen are crucial components in our energy transition and recent initiatives, such as the EU Hydrogen Bank, have highlighted that there is momentum in developing sustainable hydrogen markets.
Sustainable hydrogen is of particular importance for the decarbonization of the transportation sector and other hard-to-abate industries.
Unlike traditional fossil-derived gasoline and diesel, synthetic e-fuels are created using renewable sources and manufactured by combining captured carbon dioxide (CO2) or carbon monoxide (CO) with hydrogen obtained from the electrolysis of water using low-carbon renewable electricity sources such as biomass, wind, solar, and hydro.
The resulting fuels can serve as drop-in replacements for fossil fuels, offering a low overall carbon footprint. Electro-fuels (eFuels) are particularly relevant for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in long-distance freight, marine, and air transport.
Estonia has significant and untapped potential for renewable energy and bio-based feedstocks. Development of a flexible power grid and supporting hydrogen economy are key to a successful energy transition, as it will allow value creation despite the intermittency of renewable power generation, said Peter Daemen, Power2X.
A call for action
EU and national policymakers have a key role in providing the necessary means to put these ambitions into practice and can ease cooperation among Member States to adopt effective strategies.
They can also facilitate the exchange of best practices to increase hydrogen production capacity. This approach will ensure that the future EU hydrogen sector meets environmental and social standards while being financially viable.
Advancing the hydrogen economy requires extensive dialogue, commitment, partnerships, and the integration of diverse expertise and goals. As in diplomacy, we will need to bring people and nations together in order to find common ground and, similarly, progressing requires that all stakeholders move forward in sync. This involves not only aligning industry and government but also gaining the public’s trust and encouraging them to support this transition, said Ambassador Sander van der Sluis, Embassy of the Netherlands to Estonia.
