The H2Accelerate collaboration has published its latest policy paper today, highlighting the actions and support needed from policymakers to establish a European hydrogen trucking ecosystem and meet the heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) CO2 targets set by the European Commission.
Urgent support needed to enable policy targets to be achieved
The updated HDV CO2 targets set by the European Commission require a 45% reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. Achieving these targets is reliant on the sale of zero emission trucks: namely battery and hydrogen technology, with tens of thousands of hydrogen vehicles needed on European roads by 2030, according to ACEA’s estimates, alongside the upstream hydrogen production and refuelling infrastructure.
Recognising the role of hydrogen trucking in achieving decarbonisation targets, the European Commission has implemented the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) to ensure that member states increase their use of renewable energy, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation to mandate the availability of zero emissions refuelling and recharging infrastructure, and funding schemes, such as the Connecting Europe Facility Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Fund to promote zero carbon mobility. These actions have provided positive signals for the hydrogen trucking sector, however uncertainty on the long-term business case is currently impeding the long-term large-scale investments needed.
The recent report on ‘The future of European competitiveness’, by Mario Draghi, recognises the role of hydrogen in maintaining European competitiveness in addition to achieving decarbonisation goals. This report highlights that hydrogen will need to play a specific role in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, such as transport, and advocates for the European Union to support investments in renewable fuels via funding schemes and renewable fuel support programmes, including CEF AFIF and the European Hydrogen Bank.
Niklas Gustafsson, Head of Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs from Volvo Group, said:
“At Volvo Group we recognise hydrogen as a key solution to decarbonise long distance trucking. However, we also see that today, the pathway to a positive business case is challenged. We are committed to realising the hydrogen trucking ecosystem, but we need to do this together with governments, through strong policy support to accelerate and sustain this ecosystem. We believe that recognition from all stakeholders on the challenges we are facing and the changes needed to resolve them is urgently needed.”
