As early as June 2025, the BDEW (Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industries) had called for such an alliance as part of a joint appeal by industry associations and had brought this matter to the attention of the federal government. Now, the appeal is being renewed. This time, sixteen European associations are participating, up from fourteen:
- BDEW
- DVGW German Association of the Gas and Water Industry e.V.
- German Hydrogen Association (DWV) e.V.
- Fuels and Energy Industry Association (en2x)
- The European association Eurogas
- Figawa e.V.
- Association of Gas Transmission System Operators e.V.
- Gas and Hydrogen Industry Association, Inc.
- The European association Hydrogen Europe
- Initiative for Energy Storage, Inc.
- German Chemical Industry Association (VCI)
- German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)
- VDMA e.V. Power-to-X for Applications
- VIK Association of the Industrial Energy and Power Industry e. V.
- Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU)
- Steel Industry Association
Hydrogen Enhances Resilience and Security of Supply
The associations emphasize that hydrogen and its derivatives not only contribute to climate protection but are also a key building block for greater European resilience and sovereignty. A successful ramp-up of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen would reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, strengthen security of supply, and create industrial value.
Regulatory requirements are holding back investment
Despite progress made over the past year, the associations say that the hydrogen ramp-up is still falling short of expectations. Furthermore, various regulations have led to additional costs for hydrogen, which have made investments more difficult and slowed the development of a liquid hydrogen market. Specifically, the associations cite risk-hedging instruments and the revision of electricity procurement criteria in the European Commission’s delegated act on renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO). Finding solutions to these issues requires cooperation across member states.
Germany as a Bridge-Builder in Europe
The associations see Germany as a potential bridge-builder in the European hydrogen economy: to the Benelux countries and their ports, and to France, Spain, and Portugal via the H2med project, and to Italy and Austria along the SouthH2 Corridor , as well as to the Nordic countries as production sites.
As agreed in the coalition agreement of the federal government (CDU/CSU and SPD), Germany should therefore take a leading role in a European hydrogen initiative in line with the Hydrogen Alliance.
