EU Hydrogen Station Rollout Faces Potential Losses

2025-07-06 green

Amsterdam, Sunday, 6 July 2025.
A study warns that the EU’s standardized hydrogen station plan may lead to annual losses due to misaligned station distribution with actual market demands across various countries.

Standardized Approach and Its Pitfalls

The EU’s hydrogen infrastructure strategy, bound by the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) enacted in 2023, prescribes a uniform distribution of hydrogen refueling stations. By 2030, these stations must be positioned every 200 kilometers on major roadways and in all urban counties within the EU [1][2]. However, a study conducted by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden exposes significant mismatches between the location of these stations and actual traffic demands across different regions, threatening to cause annual financial losses in the tens of millions of euros [1][3][4].

The Chalmers University Study

Researchers at Chalmers University utilized an advanced model that evaluated 600,000 freight routes across Europe, revealing severe discrepancies between EU requirements and the actual demand for hydrogen. The study accounted for not just distances but also factors such as traffic flow and landscape, using data from the European Space Agency to emphasize the substantial impact of terrain on energy consumption [2][3][4][5]. The findings indicate countries like France will need seven times more hydrogen capacity by 2050 than currently planned under EU stipulations for 2030 [1][2]. Conversely, nations such as Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece appear to be over-investing in hydrogen capacity, which might go significantly underutilized [3].

Implications and Strategic Adjustments

As the EU moves towards its 2030 climate goals, the Chalmers study suggests that the current plan for hydrogen infrastructure could lead to wastage and inefficiency. By suggesting necessary strategic re-evaluations prior to the 2026 AFIR assessment, researchers aim to provide input that could tailor legislation more effectively to each country’s specific needs [1][3][5]. This input hopes to prevent the establishment of redundant infrastructure and support long-term economic sustainability in the deployment of hydrogen technologies [2][4][6].

Expert Insights and Future Directions

Dr. Joel Löfving, a researcher involved in the study, emphasizes that while the AFIR framework is a commendable step, it is insufficient without adjustments for national variances in traffic and energy use [4]. The study’s findings have already prompted political discussions in Sweden and the EU, reflecting a growing consensus on the need for a more data-driven and flexible approach to infrastructure planning to align with both short-term needs and long-term commitments [4][5]. As the EU evaluates its AFIR strategy in 2026, integrating these insights could help optimize resource allocation and better support the hydrogen market, particularly within the heavy trucking sector [5][6].

Bronnen

hydrogen infrastructure EU initiatives