Press Release
26.05.2020

Gaseous solutions speed up EU’s economic recovery, secure jobs and industrial leadership

Brussels, 26 May 2020. As the European Commission prepares to put forward an economic response to the Covid-19 crisis, delivering on goals under consideration – financing the uptake of hydrogen production and accelerating renovation – is integral to a successful green recovery.

Eurogas Secretary General, James Watson, commented: ‘Keeping business as usual is not possible in the post-Covid-19 world. It is time to shape the new normal, by accelerating the development and financing of clean technologies – including for the biogas, biomethane and hydrogen production. Gaseous solutions are needed for relaunching the EU industry, securing jobs for European citizens and maintaining industrial leadership for European businesses, while delivering on the carbon neutrality goal.’

Scaling up clean hydrogen production is an opportunity to demonstrate Europe’s commitment to decarbonising the economy. The EU’s support should cover all forms of renewable and decarbonised hydrogen, which would ensure the competitiveness of Europe’s industrial sector and secure high-quality jobs for Europeans.

A green recovery package encompassing all decarbonisation options would create a momentum for innovation in Europe. It should serve as a catalyst for breakthrough in research and development for technologies like electrolysis, carbon capture and storage, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestors and LNG engines.

These technologies already contribute to the deployment of renewable and decarbonised gases – biogas, biomethane and hydrogen – in Europe. Setting targets for these gases would be the next natural step on way to the EU economic recovery, further incentivising innovation and investment.

Press contact | Marina Demidova | marina.demidova@eurogas.org