Background

Hydrogen is an essential part of the energy transition as it offers a solution to decarbonise industrial processes and economic sectors where reducing carbon emissions is hard to achieve. Currently, hydrogen production from renewable sources is limited, but this is set to change with the global focus on its potential and the green energy transition.

The EU adopted a hydrogen strategy (July 2020), putting forward a vision for the creation of a European hydrogen ecosystem from research and innovation to scale up production and infrastructure globally.] The EU has launched the EU Energy Platform to pool demand, coordinate infrastructure use and negotiate with international partners to facilitate joint hydrogen purchases. With the Strategy for an EU external energy engagement in a changing world and the REPower EU Plan (18 May 2022), the EU has set a target of 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen production and 10 million tonnes of imports by 2030, to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries and transport sectors. Considering the medium-term evolution of the energy mix in the EU and in partner countries, the EU will promote broader energy partnerships, combining gas cooperation with long-term energy cooperation on hydrogen, renewable gases (including biomethane) and other green energy sources to avoid stranded assets and ensure the green transition. EU is therefore encouraging hydrogen long-term cooperation in support of regional and global green energy transition and of a global rules-based and transparent hydrogen market.

Mission

The conference will bring together the main government and industry stakeholders from the Indo-Pacific region, to discuss the vision and sources of hydrogen, national and regional strategies as well as projected national consumption and export capacities. A discussion will be held around the consideration of market rules and certification and exploring future opportunities.

Facilities for business contacts between EU and Indo-Pacific companies will be made available in the margins of this conference.