European Union advances green hydrogen pilot and CO₂ storage target for 2030

The EU has launched the INDTEGRATE Horizon Europe Innovation Action to accelerate the use of solid‑oxide electrolysis (SOEC) for green hydrogen production in energy‑intensive sectors such as glass and ceramics. The three‑year project brings together industrial firms, technology developers, research institutes and universities across Europe. It will develop digital twins, reduced‑order models and a modular 220 kW SOEC system, followed by pilot demonstrations in operational facilities in Spain and Slovenia.

Separately, the EU’s Net‑Zero Industry Act sets a goal of 50 million tonnes of annual CO₂ storage capacity by 2030. Analysis of the current project pipeline suggests up to 43 Mt yr⁻¹ could be operational by that date, with storage permits and user agreements counting toward compliance even if construction is not finished. The timeline for geological storage sites, from licence acquisition through permit issuance, is considered sufficient for meeting the target, despite some industry claims of delays.

Both initiatives aim to reduce industrial emissions and support Europe’s broader climate‑neutrality objectives for 2050.