Background
In the EU Member States and their regions, there are different paces on the way to achieve climate neutrality; some of them are setting more ambitious targets and dates to reach it, while others are lagging to meet the intermediate targets established. For those regions that are in a favourable position, it is important to continue advancing in the more complex aspects of the energy transition, such as the transition of the gas sector to the use of renewable and low-carbon gases.
Although the share of renewable energy is increasing rapidly at EU level, the carbon dioxide emissions worldwide are still increasing. This means that all countries must also increase their efforts to decarbonize the energy sector, and the main challenge is to reduce fossil fuel use in the end-use sectors, particularly in industry and transport. Additionally, there are other challenges that must be overcome to decarbonize the energy sector, such as security of energy supply, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic aspects. To ensure a secure and stable energy supply, it is not enough to deploy new renewable power (wind, solar) if it cannot be stored to be used when demanded.
The set of proposals included in the Fit for 55 package provides a coherent and balanced framework for reaching the EU’s climate objectives and it specifically includes shifting from gas to renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, and proposing a review of the EU gas market design. And in 2020, the European Commission proposed a hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe, aiming to accelerate the development of clean hydrogen as a cornerstone for a climate-neutral energy system.
The UNIFHY Project Objectives are:
The main objective of UNIFHY is to develop roadmaps or strategies that will allow the creation of a market for hydrogen, making it more competitive and providing a dedicated infrastructure or facilitating its integration into the existing grid. Engaging and protecting consumers will also be a key aspect to address, as will be to increase security of supply, strengthening agreements between EU countries.
Based on these EU priorities, at regional level the project will focus on:
- Identifying and addressing the barriers and challenges that are hindering green hydrogen development.
- Engaging local and regional actors capable of solving these barriers and of creating a hydrogen ecosystem.
- Transferring the knowledge and experience from those further advanced regions and analysing the potential of improvement of the least developed areas.
- Defining effective solutions based on the experienced gathered within the project.
- Improving existing policies or developing new ones that will support the uptake of an emerging technology such as hydrogen.
- Fostering, as a result of the above mentioned, sustainable growth and jobs in the participating regions.
These will be achieved by cooperating with partner regions and by sharing good practices on regional policies for promoting renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and different methodologies that have been followed.
Policy Instrument
In accordance with the Renewable Energy Strategy for Waterford, this policy instrument aims to maximize the utilization of green hydrogen and biomethane in the energy system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance grid stability, and achieve decarbonization goals in the region.
SEEA during the UNIFHY project will aim at improving the policy instrument by the revision of the instrument itself (The Renewable Energy Strategy) in order to address policy barriers and create a conducive environment for green hydrogen and biomethane to contribute to the decarbonization in Waterford:
- Enhance the security of energy supply by supporting the development of indigenous renewable gases, such as green hydrogen and biomethane.
- Develop a comprehensive and streamlined regulatory framework specifically tailored to green hydrogen and biomethane.
- Establish dedicated financial support mechanisms to incentivize the production and utilization of green hydrogen and biomethane.
- Develop guidelines and policies that facilitate the seamless integration of green hydrogen and biomethane into the existing energy infrastructure and gas grid.
- Provide financial incentives and stimulate market development for renewable gases by creating guaranteed off-take agreements, establishing carbon pricing mechanisms, promoting renewable gas certificates.
- Collaborate and engage with industry stakeholders, local communities, and relevant authorities to better understand green hydrogen and biomethane challenges and opportunities.
- Implement a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the progress and impact of policies related to green hydrogen and biomethane.
Project Partners
Consortium Extremadura Energy Agency (ES)
Aalborg Municipality (DK)
Energy Agency Southern Sweden (SE)
Moravian-Silesian Region (CZ)
South East Energy Agency (IE)
Lubelskie Voivodeship (PL)
Want to Learn More About UNIFHY?
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UNIFHY is Possible Through Funding from the ERDF
Total Project Budget: € 1,395,028
Project Length: 01 Apr 2024-30 Jun 2028
UNIFHY in Southeast Ireland
The South East Energy Agency (SEEA) offers support to the managing committee of Waterford County Council in the effective implementation of Renewable Energy Strategy. SEEA can directly influence the policy instrument by advising Waterford County Council, and by providing capacity building to the relevant stakeholders, as well as to other actors in the hydrogen sector. This will allow to identify and implement new activities to encourage the use of hydrogen and biomethane.
This capacity that SEEA has to directly influence the policy instrument mentioned is demonstrated by the formal engagement of Waterford County Council with SEEA as advisors of the process and as direct facilitators of input to the process. This way, UNIFHY project will allow the continued successful collaboration between the two organizations across a range of regional and national stakeholder groups and EU funded projects.
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