Industry and policymakers converge on hydrogen and biofuels as a strategic answer to fossil fuel dependence, but warn of infrastructure and cost hurdles
Europe’s drive to develop homegrown clean energy alternatives has taken on a sharper strategic edge, with senior industry figures and policymakers arguing that so-called green molecules – second-generation biofuels and green hydrogen – are no longer primarily a climate story but a matter of industrial survival.
The assessment came at a Euractiv event on 4 June, where Spanish energy company Moeve presented findings from an in-depth report on the role of green molecules in Europe’s energy transition.
According to the report, scaling these technologies could reduce Europe’s energy dependence by half by 2040 and, by 2050, replace up to 50 per cent of current fossil fuel demand, account for roughly one-third of Europe’s energy mix and cut CO₂ emissions by 22 per cent.
Concerted action needed
