The Hydrogen Initiative
We, the signatories of this initiative, gathered in Linz, Austria, on the 17th and 18th of September 2018,
collectively aim to maximise the great potentials of sustainable hydrogen technology for the
decarbonisation of multiple sectors, the energy system and for the long-term energy security of the
EU.
Acknowledging climate change as a common global challenge and focusing on our commitments to
the UNFCCC, we especially underline the key role of sustainable energy technologies in the targeted
process of decarbonisation. We need to increase our ambition in all sectors to fulfil the targets set by
the Paris Agreement, namely to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C
above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.
The signatories of this declaration stress that in light of the continuous progress of automation and
digitalisation in industry, the energy sector should prepare for new challenges in energy demand,
usage, transport and storage.
We highlight the potential of renewable hydrogen as an energy storage solution as well as a
sustainable climate neutral energy carrier and feedstock. Therefore, renewable hydrogen is able to
store as well as provide reliable and timely access to renewable energy, thus offering new
opportunities to increase energy security and reduce the Energy Union’s dependency on fossil
imports.
In order to accelerate the growth and integration of renewable energy sources in the internal energy
market, we will strive to maximise synergies through regional and multilateral cooperation regarding
the exchange of technological expertise, data, results and best practices.
Taking into account the obligations of the UNFCCC, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development as well as the energy and climate targets of the European Union for 2030, the
signatories underline that renewable hydrogen has the potential to contribute to the Union’s pathway
of decarbonising the economy.
In order to promote the potential of hydrogen for the supply of efficient, safe and clean energy for all
users throughout Europe, research and innovation in the field of hydrogen technology must be further
intensified. Simultaneously, we note that the acceleration of early implementation and wider
application of sustainable hydrogen technology is able to contribute to the economic competitiveness
of the Energy Union.

Our ambition
Welcoming the range of opportunities of sustainable hydrogen technology in decarbonising the
economy and ensuring safe, competitive, available and sustainable energy supply for the Energy
Union, we want to increase our focus, ambitions and efforts in the following fields:

Sector integration and coupling
We underline the need for a safe, low carbon and sustainable transformation of the energy sector
moving towards an integrated energy approach, in which synergies in the operation of electricity, gas
and heat networks can be exploited.
Accordingly, we emphasise the role of hydrogen as a promising link between the electricity, industry
and mobility sectors, opening new windows of opportunity in energy flexibility, availability, security, as
well as improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the energy transition, contributing to the
decarbonisation of the economy.

Short- and long-term energy storage
We strive to deploy storage options for renewable hydrogen, including the use of existing
infrastructure.
We highlight the capability of short- and long-term storage of renewable energy with hydrogen as an
energy source, hence contributing to energy security.

Direct injection into the gas-grid
We aspire to investigate how to integrate renewable hydrogen into the gas grids gradually, which
could substantially contribute to “greening” of the gas infrastructure and decarbonisation of the heating
and cooling sectors as well as reducing natural gas imports.
Additionally, we highlight that injected green hydrogen from electrolysis could improve the efficient
use of variable and intermittent renewable energy.

Conversion of hydrogen to renewable methane
We dedicate ourselves to explore the most effective conversion of renewable hydrogen into synthetic
methane and other renewable fuels. We draw attention to ongoing research activities regarding
biological conversion of hydrogen to methane and other hydrocarbons.

Industry
We stress that green hydrogen provides wide application possibilities in conventional industries,
possibly replacing carbon intensive processes. Following, we will promote the use of renewable
hydrogen as well as derived products in industrial processes, where applicable.

Transport and mobility
We highlight the need to investigate options to support hydrogen application in transport and mobility.
Additionally, we strive to facilitate the establishment of the necessary fuelling infrastructure to provide
for increasing hydrogen demand.

In addition, we focus our ambitions on setting multilateral frameworks and standards to ensure
maximum consistency for implementing hydrogen technology application in diverse sectors.
We are convinced that Europe should be at the forefront of the sustainable transformation of the
energy sector as an international leader in clean energy technology development and implementation.
Moreover, we strive to raise public awareness and acceptance for hydrogen technology.
Furthermore, we encourage third countries and industry to join our efforts set out in this declaration to
promote a worldwide supporting framework for sustainable hydrogen technology.

Political character of this initiative:
This document does not create any legal rights or obligations and does not intend to replace or modify
any existing legal rights or obligations.