Green Hydrogen Research and Development Projects in the European Union

The rapid growth of the global energy demand coupled with concerns over climate change has triggered a pressing need to transition toward more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources. The European Union (EU) recognizes the potential of green hydrogen and has invested significantly in research and development (R&D) projects to foster its widespread adoption. EU has launched several research and development initiatives under the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs to promote the development of green hydrogen technologies. Green hydrogen (GH2) can play a significant part in the decarbonization of the energy sector and is produced by electrolyzing water using renewable energy sources, including wind and solar electricity. In this chapter, we review the current state of research and development in green hydrogen technologies in the EU, focusing on the Horizon projects and analyze the main objectives, activities, and outcomes of the Horizon projects related to green hydrogen, and discuss the implications for the future of energy systems in the EU. In other words, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the Green Hydrogen Research and Development Projects in the European Union, focusing on initiatives undertaken between 2010 and 2023. The main objective is to assess progress in advancing green hydrogen technologies, identify key challenges, and evaluate the impacts on the EU’s energy landscape. The EU’s ambitious commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 has driven these efforts.