• Lawmakers reject attempt to block funding for major hydrogen pipeline projects.

The European Parliament has voted against a motion that sought to block public funding for large-scale hydrogen pipeline infrastructure across Europe, clearing the way for billions in investment to move forward. The decision effectively endorses the European Commission’s latest list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMI) — a portfolio that includes over 100 hydrogen-related projects, primarily pipelines.

The rejected motion, backed by more than 70 civil society organisations, argued that many of these pipelines could initially transport natural gas, potentially locking Europe into continued fossil fuel use. Critics warned that this approach risks undermining long-term climate targets and delaying a full transition to renewable hydrogen.

By voting the motion down, MEPs have allowed these projects to proceed under the European Commission’s delegated framework, enabling access to public funding and fast-track permitting under the TEN-E regulation. The total investment tied to the infrastructure package is estimated to exceed €80 billion ($86 billion) — a clear signal that Europe is prioritising network buildout.

The rationale is straightforward: without pipelines, there is no hydrogen market. Production alone is not enough — molecules need to move at scale, across borders and into industrial demand centres. From a systems perspective, infrastructure has to come before full utilisation.

But the compromise is obvious. Many of these pipelines are expected to be hydrogen-ready rather than hydrogen-exclusive, meaning they may initially carry natural gas or blended fuels. That’s the trade-off between speed and purity — and policymakers have chosen speed.

Source:  Fuel Cells Works