Hydrogen, sun, wind: Which ones can make the best contribution to Europe's energy transformation?

Meeting the EU’s proposed new climate targets for 2030 will require a “transformation” of the bloc’s energy system, with a renewed focus on renewables and further efforts to cut fossil fuels in buildings, transport and industry. Hydrogen has become a central element of EU plans to reach net-zero emission by mid-century. Many climate advocates believe the future lies in green hydrogen - an inexhaustible energy carrier that can be produced using renewable electricity and an electrolyser which splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. There are plenty of challenges ahead. Financial stability is key to enable the development of renewable energy sources. To effectively integrate renewables, investments in the development of grid infrastructure are mandatory. Is it time to scale up technologies to reduce costs, allowing renewable energy sources such as green hydrogen to become widely used? How long might that take? And how can policymakers, especially with the upcoming review of the EU's renewables and energy efficiency directives in June 2021, help accelerate the transition to newer forms of renewable energy?