Green hydrogen is a key building block for the decarbonization and resilience of the European energy system. At the same time, it strengthens Europe’s strategic independence in an increasingly volatile global energy market. However, building a strong European value chain and ensuring a balanced competitive environment requires clear regulations that govern the market access of subsidized Chinese suppliers, as well as realistic RFNBO criteria.

For the expansion of its production facilities in Kawasaki, Asahi Kasei receives subsidies from the Prefecture of Kanagawa and the City of Kawasaki. By 2028, an annual capacity of at least 2 GW for cell frames and membranes for alkaline electrolyzers is to be established there. With the existing capacity for chlor-alkali electrolysis plants, the annual total capacity would thus increase to over 3 GW.

The VDMA opposes a weakening of climate targets. Managing Director Thilo Brodtmann instead calls for better research funding for climate protection technologies. The mechanical and plant engineering sector sees itself as a key supplier – also with Power-to-X solutions.

The eFuel Alliance has presented a position paper that classifies electricity-based fuels as a security-relevant factor for Europe. The association calls for practical production rules, binding sub-quotas, and the crediting of investments towards the NATO spending target.

The planned amendment to the Wind Energy at Sea Act opens the way for combined electricity and hydrogen production at sea for the first time. The AquaVentus initiative welcomes the draft bill but criticizes the restriction to individual areas. According to the initiative's calculations, double-digit billions could be saved.

The industry association BDEW is calling on the German government to establish Contracts for Difference as a central instrument for scaling up hydrogen. This requires a dedicated budget item in the Climate and Transformation Fund 2027.

The industry association AquaVentus demands in its statement on the Area Development Plan 2025 the retention of the offshore area SEN-1. Otherwise, the ramp-up of offshore electrolysis in the German North Sea is at risk. The association proposes two electrolysis platforms, each with 250 MW.

The Stadtwerke Stuttgart and the ZSW are developing an AI-supported software for operating the four electrolysers at the Green Hydrogen Hub Stuttgart in the SCH2EDULIZER project. It aims to optimally control production, battery storage, and the electricity market.

Regionalverkehr Köln (RVK) has begun construction of a hydrogen filling station with an electrolyser in Mechernich. The facility is scheduled to go into operation at the end of 2026 and will produce 36 kilograms of green hydrogen per hour. The Federal Ministry of Transport is funding the project with around 15 million euros.

The municipality of Bosbüll in North Frisia is expanding its district heating network. In the future, process heat from local hydrogen production will also be fed into the system. Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2025.

The Swiss company Infener wants to promote hydrogen throughout Europe. Decentralized H₂ hubs will be used to generate green electricity as well as green heat. The Ecore One is a compact containerized solution that combines various energy technologies in one unit: electrolyzer, fuel cell and battery as well as compressor and a heat pump with its own energy management system or EMS. H₂ production is due to start 2027 at a site in the Black Forest, Germany. However, the needs of regional industry are already far greater today.

The Finnish e-methane developer Nordic Ren-Gas and the Dresden-based electrolysis manufacturer Sunfire have entered into a long-term partnership. Sunfire will thus become the preferred technology partner for Ren-Gas's hydrogen and e-methane projects.

The Stadtwerke Stuttgart (SWS) are permitted to build their planned hydrogen production facility in the Stuttgart port in a revised version. The Office for Environmental Protection of the state capital Stuttgart has approved the corresponding amendment application. Previously, the SWS had changed the supplier of the electrolysers.

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Meyer Werft, and Helmut-Schmidt-University are developing a metal hydride-based hydrogen storage system for large passenger ships in the H2MASS project. The onboard system is intended to deliver a target output of 4 MW during port operations and cover the hotel load emission-free.

AquaDuctus Pipeline GmbH is starting the geotechnical investigations for the planned offshore hydrogen pipeline in the North Sea. According to the company, the work in front of Norderney and Hilgenriedersiel will begin at the earliest on July 20, 2026, providing data for route planning and construction methods.