The Renewable Hydrogen Coalition (RHC) has elected new leadership for the next 18 months, with Olivia Breese, CEO of Power-to-X at Ørsted, appointed as Chair, and Håkon Volldal, President and CEO of Nel, serving as Vice-chair. The RHC, consisting of start-ups, investors, entrepreneurs, innovative companies, and industrial off-takers, aims to propel renewable hydrogen's role in achieving the European Union's long-term decarbonization goals.

Olivia Breese, the newly appointed Chair, stressed the urgency of transforming Europe's renewable hydrogen ambitions into tangible action. She emphasized the need for targeted funding and support schemes to unlock viable business models. Additionally, completing the regulatory framework is crucial to enable large-scale adoption of renewable hydrogen. With her experience in the Power-to-X sector, Breese is determined to drive the next phase of growth in the industry.

Håkon Volldal, the newly elected Vice-chair, highlighted the importance of European leadership in the global renewable hydrogen technology race. Volldal emphasized the need to establish a robust European value chain, including upscaling manufacturing capacities and setting industry standards. Closing the cost gap between renewable and fossil-based alternatives is a priority, which will unlock larger investments in hard-to-electrify sectors and kick-start the renewable hydrogen economy in Europe.

Under the new leadership, the RHC is eager to collaborate with supporters, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders to turn Europe's renewable hydrogen ambitions into concrete reality. By fostering partnerships and engaging with industry players, the coalition aims to bridge the gap between vision and implementation.

The recent publication of two delegated acts by the European Commission further supports the renewable hydrogen sector. These acts provide detailed rules on the EU's definition of renewable hydrogen, outlining conditions for considering hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels as renewable fuels of non-biological origin. The acts also establish a methodology for calculating life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions for these fuels. This regulatory clarity offers legal certainty to both producers and consumers of renewable hydrogen, encouraging investments in decarbonizing the energy system.

With the RHC's renewed leadership and its call for concrete action, the renewable hydrogen industry is poised for significant progress. By prioritizing tangible measures, focusing on funding and support schemes, and completing the regulatory framework, the RHC aims to accelerate the adoption of renewable hydrogen across Europe. Through collaboration with stakeholders and policymakers, the coalition seeks to transform Europe's ambitious renewable hydrogen vision into a thriving reality.