Study – The role of hydrogen in the de-carbonisation of Resource and Energy-Intensive Industries (REIIs)

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is planning to launch a procurement procedure for a study on The role of hydrogen in the de-carbonisation of the Resource and Energy Intensive Industries (REIIs).

This announcement is being made pursuant to Annex I.14 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, to award a low-value contract as a result of a negotiated procedure. It is being published ahead of the procurement procedure with basic information on the subject matter of the contract to give interested economic operators the possibility of expressing their interest in participating as a tenderer in the subsequent procurement procedure.

All economic operators established in the European Union, European Economic Area and countries with a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, with proven experience in conducting studies on related topics, may express their interest in participating.

DESCRIPTION

The various resource- and energy-intensive industry (REII) sectors (chemical, steel, cement, ceramics, glass and paper sectors) have produced road maps for the progressive de-carbonisation of their production processes to reach the EU's objectives and targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 2050. Industry decarbonisation will rely directly on the availability of sufficient, affordable low-carbon energy sources that make low-carbon industrial production possible.

The use of hydrogen is an essential and strategic aspect in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and Europe’s clean energy transition[1], and the availability of huge volumes of hydrogen for the substitution of carbon, currently used as a reducing agent in many production processes, is an important factor for the de-carbonisation of production processes in REII sectors.

However, forecasting the needs for hydrogen is currently challenging. This is due to the lack of reliable scenarios based on assessments of the capabilities to produce the required vast amounts of electric energy from renewable sources and at affordable prices. In addition to energy availability, efficient transport of these resources from the places where they are produced to the places where consumers are located is needed, as well as pricing that allows EU industry to be fully competitive.

The study should provide a brief introduction to some of the key challenges related to the use of hydrogen as a renewable source in the context of the REIIs, such as hydrogen production, the required infrastructure for safe storage and transportation networks.

Focusing on the steel sector, the study should then examine more closely the questions of green hydrogen utilisation sites and energy pricing. Furthermore, it should assess the foreseeable hydrogen needs of the steel industry in the European Union from now to 2050, taking into account the incremental implementation of the EU hydrogen strategy and complementing measures supporting industrial decarbonisation in the sector.

The study should provide the conclusions of its findings and propose concrete policy recommendations at EU level regarding the progressive decarbonisation of production processes in the REIIs, especially in the steel sector, based on the use of green hydrogen.

Desk research should be carried out to collect information and data from studies, reports, scientific articles and other relevant literature. For the purpose of assessing the hydrogen needs of the steel industry in the European Union from now to 2050, a quantitative analysis of available data and statistical projection may also be relevant.

Languages/geographical area

The study should be carried out in English and cover the region of the European Union.

Indicative calendar

  1. Launch of the invitation to tender: September 2021.
  2. Contract award: 4th quarter 2021.
  3. The final study report is expected within 4 months following signature of the contract.
  4. Deadline for submission of tenders: approximately 3rd quarter 2021.

DISCLAIMER

Please note that this announcement does not create any obligation for the EESC to launch a procurement procedure. The EESC will take the submitted information into account only to identify potential candidates. Expressing interest to participate in a negotiated procedure of this type does not create any legal right or legitimate expectation on the part of any economic operator, and the EESC has the right to cancel the procedure at any time. The procurement documents will only be provided to the identified candidates, and any tender received from a legal or natural person not invited to tender will be rejected.

DATA PROTECTION

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[1]            See A hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe, European Commission Communication COM(2020) 301 final.

Contact

Expressions of interest to participate should be sent via the following contact form, before the deadline indicated below:

Deadline

Friday, September 3, 2021 - 15:00