A unified European hydrogen infrastructure planning to support the rapid scale-up of hydrogen production

Abstract Hydrogen will become a key player in the transition toward a net-zero energy system. However, a clear pathway toward a unified European hydrogen infrastructure is still under discussion. We explore plausible pathways using a fully sector-coupled energy system model and assess the emergence of hydrogen infrastructure build-outs connecting third-nation hydrogen import and domestic production centers with Western and Central European demands via four distinct hydrogen corridors. We identify a potential lock-in effect of blue hydrogen in the medium term, highlighting the risk of long-term dependence on methane. In contrast, we show that a self-sufficient Europe relying on domestic green hydrogen by 2050 increases yearly expense by around 3 % and requires 500 GW of electrolysis. This study emphasizes the importance of a rapid scale-up of electrolysis capacity, build-out of hydrogen network and storage facilities, deployment of renewable electricity generation, and coherent coordination across European nations.