An alliance for Europe's hydrogen infrastructure

15.04.2026

Source: E & M powernews

The CEOs of well-known companies have joined forces to form the "European Resilience Alliance for Clean Hydrogen & Derivatives" (ERA). They have clear demands for politicians.

Eleven companies from production, infrastructure and industrial applications have founded the "European Resilience Alliance for Clean Hydrogen & Derivatives" (ERA) in Brussels. The aim: "to accelerate the use of clean hydrogen for Europe's industrial competitiveness and energy independence", according to a statement from co-founder Thyssenkrupp. The founding event took place on April 14 in Brussels. EU Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera gave the opening speech

The alliance, which includes Thyssenkrupp, Enagas, Fluxys, Fortum, Gasgrid Finland, Moeve, Nordion Energi, OGE, RWE Generation, Sefe and Stegra, sees itself as a pan-European platform led by CEOs across the entire hydrogen value chain.

At its heart is a white paper published by the alliance. In it, it describes a gap between political ambition and actual implementation: despite a large project pipeline, less than 7 percent of hydrogen projects have reached the final investment decision to date. The paper cites fragmented national regulation, complex requirements for renewable fuels of non-biogenic origin, high electricity costs, a lack of bankable demand and uncertain infrastructure paths as key obstacles.

Four demands on politicians

As a result, the Alliance has formulated four political demands. Firstly, demand should support the market ramp-up, for example through rapid implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive RED III and harmonized specifications from "ReFuelEU Aviation" and "FuelEU Maritime". Secondly, it calls for simpler and more reliable funding frameworks. Thirdly, private capital must be mobilized through predictable ETS and CBAM signals as well as additional hedging instruments. Fourthly, an accelerated expansion of cross-border hydrogen infrastructure is necessary.

"Europe's vulnerability is structural," Miguel López, CEO of thyssenkrupp AG and thyssenkrupp Decarbon Technologies, was quoted as saying at the launch: "Dependence on external energy sources, technologies, supply chains and critical raw materials threatens our long-term prosperity and industrial leadership. At the same time, Europe must achieve its climate targets. Resilience has therefore become a political and economic imperative that requires action from all of us."

Namely involved in the alliance are: Arturo Gonzalo Aizpiri, CEO, Enagás; Pascal De Buck, CEO, Fluxys; Markus Rauramo, CEO, Fortum; Olli Sipilä, CEO, Gasgrid Finland; Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO, Hydrogen Europe; Maarten Wetselaar, CEO, Moeve; Hans Kreisel, CEO, Nordion Energi; Detlef Brüggemeyer, CTO, OGE; Nikolaus Valerius, CEO, RWE Generation:Egbert Laege, CEO, Sefe; Niklas Wass, CEO, Stegra Boden; Miguel López, CEO, Thyssenkrupp & Thyssenkrupp Decarbon Technologies; Marie Jaroni, CEO,Thyssenkrupp Steel and Nadja Håkansson, COO, Thyssenkrupp Decarbon Technologies & CEO, Thyssenkrupp Uhde.

The white paper "Securing Europe's Energy and Industrial Future. Unlocking Europe's Clean Hydrogen Economy: pragmatic path from policy to bankable projects" is available on the Alliance's website.

Author: Katia Meyer-Tien