Just a few weeks ago, the EU Commission launched the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance. The hydrogen alliance is intended to play a central role in the market ramp-up and large-scale use of climate-neutral hydrogen in Europe . The founding members are 18 CEOs of leading European industrial companies and 12 representatives from politics and civil society.

The value chain for clean hydrogen.

© European Clean Hydrogen Alliance

The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance aims to support the development of a clean and globally competitive hydrogen industry in Europe. Clean hydrogen technologies offer the potential to comprehensively decarbonize some of Europe's highest emitting industries. Hydrogen also plays a key role in Europe's transition to a _{carbon-neutral} economy.

Following its foundation a few weeks ago, the Alliance is now focusing on quickly establishing a functioning and competitive European hydrogen economy, helping hydrogen achieve a breakthrough in as many industrial sectors as possible and thus achieving ecological, economic and social success. After all, clean hydrogen not only has the potential to reduce_{CO2 emissions} enormously and make a decisive contribution to climate protection. Thanks to its long value chains, the hydrogen economy can also create a large number of new jobs in Europe.

The VDMA and hydrogen

The VDMA and the mechanical engineering sector in general have been driving the hydrogen economy in Germany for many years. With the steadily growing VDMA Power-to-X for Applications working group, the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association has created a horizontal, cross-sector platform with more than 100 technology companies. Dr. Carola Kantz, Deputy Managing Director and representative of the Power-to-X for Applications working group in Brussels, is delighted about the cooperation and emphasizes the importance of the short-term target of 6 GW of electrolysis capacity in the EU by 2024: "The cooperation within the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance will also boost our work. This target has brought the necessary legal framework for achieving a rapid market ramp-up within reach. And only with market-oriented business models will it be possible to establish a sustainable hydrogen economy in Europe."

Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA and High-Level Representative in the Hydrogen Alliance: "The VDMA unites the necessary technologies and research networks under its umbrella to further advance hydrogen and the hydrogen economy, from energy generation to process and production technology to application." In addition to the aforementioned Power-to-X for Applications working group, the VDMA is also home to important users of a hydrogen economy, such as the Fuel Cells working group and the #XMOTIVE forum.