European associations call for a Hydrogen Grids Strategy in upcoming EU Grids Package

October 3, 2025

European Associations Call on EU to Integrate Hydrogen Grids Strategy in Upcoming Grids Package

This year’s edition of Hydrogen Week deep dives into the needs for Hydrogen infrastructure. On the heels of the High-Level Policy Conference session entitled “Powering tomorrow: aligning energy infrastructure with net-zero goals”, Hydrogen Europe, GIE and other European associations are urging the European Commission to take decisive action on hydrogen backbone. In a joint statement released today, the stakeholders call on the Commission to make the upcoming Grids Package a robust tool to strengthen Europe’s energy resilience by integrating a Hydrogen Grids Strategy in its scope. Such a strategy will be vital to meet the continent’s climate, industrial, and security objectives by deploying dedicated hydrogen infrastructure.

Introduced by Sopna Sury, Chair of Hydrogen Europe and COO Hydrogen at RWE, and Charlotte Roule, Group Hydrogen VP ENGIE and CEO, Storengy, the statement is a testament to a broad industry support for this call for action.

Covering the full hydrogen infrastructure system, the Hydrogen Grid Strategy will accelerate industrial decarbonisation, enhance system flexibility, and build the networks needed to scale up renewable and low-carbon hydrogen across the EU.

The joint statement sets out ten concrete action points calling on the EU to:

1. Enable and facilitate the repurposing of natural gas infrastructure for hydrogen use,
2. Develop a pan-European hydrogen network,
3. Ensure intersectoral infrastructure planning,
4. Ground planning in realistic demand scenarios,
5. Leverage hydrogen infrastructure for system flexibility,
6. Streamline permitting and administrative procedures,
7. Ensure regulatory clarity for cross-border investments,
8. Reinforce and diversify EU funding tools,
9. Introduce new de-risking and financing mechanisms,
10. Adapt State Aid rules to support infrastructure.

By integrating these priorities into the Grids Package, the EU can ensure that its energy system is not only decarbonised and competitive, but also resilient and secure.

In collaboration with: CO2 Value Europe | The European Hydrogen Backbone | FuelsEurope | Hydrogen Europe | IOGP | IFIEC Europe | H2eart for Europe

Note to editors

Who is GIE?

Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) is the association representing the interests of European gas infrastructure operators active in gas transmission, gas storage and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) regasification. GIE is a trusted partner of European institutions, regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders. It is based in Brussels, the heart of European policymaking. GIE currently represents 72 member companies from 25 countries. GIE’s vision is that by 2050, the gas infrastructure will be the backbone of the new innovative energy system, allowing European citizens to benefit from a secure, efficient and sustainable energy supply.