An important step toward a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future is being made by the growing collaboration between the European Union (EU) and Japan in the field of hydrogen energy, which is demonstrating notable signs of success. This collaboration was started in response to the pressing need for clean energy solutions and the challenges posed by the global climate. It also underline’s Europe’s aspirations in regional politics, particularly in light of China’s hegemony in the clean technology sector.
European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson made official visit to Japan in early June. As a result of the visit, “the main players in Europe’s hydrogen sector – Germany’s €5 billion H2Global funding vehicle, lobby group Hydrogen Europe, and the EU’s €3 billion Hydrogen Bank and €1 billion ‘Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking’ research outfit – signed agreements with their Japanese counterparts,” reports Euractiv.
Hydrogen has long been acknowledged by the EU and Japan as a crucial component in the shift to a low-carbon economy. Early in 2022, the cooperation agreement was formalized, paving the way for collaborative research, development, and application of hydrogen technologies.
Additionally, Reuters quoted Kadri Simon saying, “Hydrogen will be very soon an internationally traded commodity, and close EU-Japan cooperation will be essential for promoting renewable and low-carbon hydrogen globally, and ensuring that standards and regulations converge.”
A new electrolysis technology developed in collaboration between European and Japanese researchers significantly lowers the cost of producing hydrogen. With this development, green hydrogen can now be more cheaply produced than fossil fuels, opening up new applications and improving energy security without relying on Chinese technological hegemony.
Some researchers warn about possible complications that may arise. South China Morning Post cited Nicola De Blasio, a senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center saying, “c competition in green hydrogen-based industries could lead to market tensions between importers and upgraders of green hydrogen, potentially resulting in trade barriers or conflicts.”
The EU-Japan hydrogen cooperation has produced encouraging results that demonstrate the effectiveness of international cooperation in tackling global energy challenges and strategically balancing regional influences. The partnership between the EU and Japan offers a blueprint for achieving a greener, more sustainable future and countering China’s dominance in the renewable energy sector at a time when the world is grappling with the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
