The EESC held a conference on low-carbon hydrogen in Pärnu, Estonia on 12 November. The aim of the event was to discuss and identify strategic actions for the development of sustainable infrastructure for hydrogen and its derivatives, focusing on financing and usage.

Entitled Offshore Power for E-Fuels: Boosting the New Hydrogen Economy, the conference brought together the Embassy of the Netherlands in Estonia, the Pärnu County Development Centre, the Metrosert Applied Research Centre, Invest Estonia and the e-methanol plant developer Power2X.

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. To this end, EU and national policy makers need to provide the necessary means to put these ambitions into practice and ease cooperation among Member States to adopt effective strategies.

Commenting on this urgent need, the president of the EESC’s Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society Baiba Miltoviča said: ‘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’s essential that we direct our resources wisely. To maximise our impact, we need to prioritise hard-to-abate sectors and establish effective ecological and social standards that ensure fair and safe working conditions.’ (mp)