June 18, 2025
GIE and a consortium of other European organisations are urging the European Commission in a joint statement to make the Grids Package a robust tool to strengthen the continent’s security by promoting a forward-looking, integrated hydrogen infrastructure strategy that will enable us to meet our common climate, industrial, and security goals.
The Council Presidency adopted on Monday, 16 June, its conclusions on energy security, system planning and resilience, followed a day later by the Commission’s proposal for a regulation on the ban on Russian gas imports, seen as a first formal step towards ending energy relations with Russia. The Commission is currently preparing its Grids Package and consulting stakeholders on it with the aim of presenting the proposal by the end of 2025. This package will be crucial for the future of the EU energy grids, which will in turn contribute to the overall security of supply of the European Continent.
Arno Bux, President of GIE, said: “Hydrogen infrastructure is the linchpin for Europe’s energy transformation, bridging the gap where electricity alone cannot deliver. As we face increasing challenges to energy security and system resilience, it’s imperative that the upcoming Grids Package decisively integrates a forward-thinking Hydrogen Grid Strategy. This strategy must unlock the unique capabilities of hydrogen—long-duration storage, sector integration, and cross-border flexibility—to build a truly robust, competitive, and climate-neutral energy system. Investing now in hydrogen infrastructure is not merely an option; it’s a strategic necessity to safeguard Europe’s energy future while driving industrial leadership.”
Hydrogen infrastructure is a strategic enabler to the deployment of a flexible, secure, more integrated and thus more resilient energy system. While the electricity grid inherently lacks large-scale storage and temporal flexibility, hydrogen provides capabilities that electrons alone cannot: long-duration storage, sector coupling, and system balancing across time and geography. It complements electricity networks, helps integrate renewables, connects supply and demand across regions and sectors, and strengthens both flexibility and Europe’s energy supply.
Investments in hydrogen infrastructure, including repurposed pipelines, storage, and terminals, are also cost-effective. Compared to the €1.2 trillion in electricity grid needs by 2040, the EU27 would need only €170 billion for hydrogen transport infrastructure (or €400 billion including electrolysers and terminals).
GIE and other stakeholders call on the European Commission and Member States to ensure that the Grids Package includes:
With the Presidency highlighting the need for future-proof and integrated infrastructure planning, the time to act is now. A clear strategy for hydrogen infrastructure must be part of Europe’s energy future.
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.
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