The Hydrogen Infrastructure That Does Not Exist Yet
June 26, 2026 · Frisian News
The EU is funding hydrogen projects across Europe, but the infrastructure to transport, store, and distribute hydrogen at commercial scale does not exist.
The EU just approved 1.2 billion euros in funding for hydrogen projects across Europe. Not a single one will move hydrogen from a production site to a customer without breaking current law. The infrastructure to transport, store, and distribute hydrogen at commercial scale does not exist.
Hydrogen was supposed to replace fossil fuels in heavy industry, shipping, and long-distance transport. Germany, the Netherlands, and France have all announced hydrogen strategies. The International Energy Agency says we need to triple hydrogen production by 2030 to meet climate targets. But look at the numbers: global hydrogen output is still 96 percent produced from natural gas, which defeats the purpose. Few countries have even a working plan to build the pipelines, storage tanks, or liquefaction plants such a transition would require.
The money is flowing anyway. Oil companies like Shell and TotalEnergies are now hydrogen companies. Energy firms see a chance to lock in new contracts with governments. The promise of hydrogen lets politicians claim they are serious about climate while postponing the hard choice: stopping energy use altogether or accepting nuclear power.
The obstacles are not new. Hydrogen is expensive to produce cleanly, using more energy than it will later provide. Transport is a nightmare: it leaks from pipelines, corrodes metal, and requires special infrastructure. Liquefying it for shipping is energy-intensive. No buyer wants hydrogen at European prices when oil and natural gas are cheap.
The hydrogen economy might work eventually. For now, it works best as a slush fund for energy companies and a way for governments to look serious without changing anything real.
Published June 26, 2026 · Frisian News