As of December 1, 2024 former Danish Climate minister Dan Jørgensen, the new EU Energy Commissioner Designate for Energy and Housing, and Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director General Energy and EC veteran of 33 years and former head of cabinet Danish Competitiveness Commissioner Vestager, will be heading, what could become the most important topic of this decennium: Energy….
In his hearing on November 7, 2024, that delivered him a two third majority vote in the EU Parliament, Commissioner-designate Jørgensen pointed out four principles for his responsibilities:
1. Structural changes and real, long‑lasting solutions.
2. Tangible results – here and now, fast – that everybody, all citizens of Europe, can feel in their everyday life.
3. People first listening to their concerns;
4. Inclusive, actively seek the engagement of our citizens, of our NGOs.
On the same day, Commissioner president Ursula von der Leyen in het speech to the Fourth Renewable Hydrogen Summit highlighted final investment decision on over 2 gigawatts of renewable hydrogen projects, four times our current installed capacity that secured all necessary funding and permits in the last 12 months;
– Stegra’s Boden steel plant in Sweden, supported by the European Innovation Fund, will soon be the
– From Denmark to Romania, from Germany to Portugal, 10 other large-scale projects have also moved from concept to construction.
The United States saw just two such decisions during the same period, and investment in European hydrogen is set to grow by 140% in 2024, with Europe contributing nearly a third of global investments in electrolysers.
She also mentioned the role of the Hydrogen Bank in kickstarting a market, a key task for the new Energy Commissioner: on December 3 the second EU H2 Auction with a EU Innovation Fund budget of 1 bln Euro for industrial use and 200 mln for maritime use is published. Spain 280 – 400 mln, Lithuania 36 mln and Austria 400 mln contributed a total of 836 mln as Memebr States to this Auction.
With REPowerEU, a target has been set to produce 10 million tons of renewable hydrogen by 2030 and the Renewable Energy Directive to be law in all Member States by 2025, complements this with at least 42% of hydrogen used in industry, and 29% in transport, to be renewable by 2030. In order forthis to happen, the creation of clean lead markets of industry off-takers — from steel and chemical producers to transport and energy storage providers — is urgent. The Clean Industrial Deal, that the new European Commission will present in its first 100 days will have to provide more guidance and clarity to fulfill the new Commissioner’s principles, to be executed by his female power…..