Hydrogen is a compelling option for sustainable mobility in the medium term, having great potential for development as an energy carrier for cars and especially for hard-to-abate transport sectors such as heavy and long-distance road transport where electrical solutions are not technically viable. It could also offer a solution for maritime mobility in the long term. Furthermore, hydrogen produced from waste can contribute to achieving decarbonization targets for the transport sector under EU Directive 2018/2001, which recognizes the contribution of fuels from recycled carbon.
At present, however, the development of European mobility based on hydrogen is hampered by high production and distribution costs and the lack of an adequate infrastructure network. Due to well-known issues in its storage, it’s preferable to produce it on site using an electrolyzer powered by excess electricity from renewable power plants.
Hydrogen can also be used for electricity production when renewables are not able to satisfy the energy demand in peak hours: the combustion of hydrogen and natural gas blends in existing gas turbines could generate low-carbon electricity.
