During the plenary session, MEPs present their proposals for decarbonising Europe’s energy system, industry and transport sector with Hydrogen produced from renewable sources as a key to Europe’s energy transition. Extracts from the joint debate, from the final vote and statement by Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), Rapporteur

Brussels

debate

plenary session

vote

GEIER, Jens (S&D, DE)

NIEBLER, Angelika (EPP, DE)

DALUNDE, Jakop G. (Greens/EFA, SE, Greens/EFA, DE, SE)

fight against climate change (T)

GRUDLER, Christophe (Renew, FR)

GONZÁLEZ CASARES, Nicolás (S&D, ES)

SIMSON, Kadri (EE, EC)

European Green Deal (T)

European Strategy for Hydrogen: extracts from the debate, from the final vote and statement by Jens GEIER (S&D, DE), Rapporteur

Title: European Strategy for Hydrogen: extracts from the debate, from the final vote and statement by Jens GEIER (S&amp;D, DE), Rapporteur

SOUNDBITE (French), Christophe GRUDLER (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, This report is not giving an imaginary or imagined picture of an energy system for the future. It presents trends that already exist throughout Europe and the world. And it's not imagining the challenges of a future that's a long way in the future. Instead, it highlights today's challenges, which are genuine.

SOUNDBITE (French), Christophe GRUDLER (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, Investments in hydrogen have multiplied over the last few months, and Europe is the sector which has invested the most.

SOUNDBITE (French), Christophe GRUDLER (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, And there's very much an awareness in the European Parliament, although there are some differing views. But all of us want to ensure that we do in fact genuinely move towards energy neutrality. And we are aware of the challenges that exist, which will vary from one country to another. But what unites us is a genuine desire to cooperate.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kadri SIMSON, European Commissioner for Energy, Hydrogen can play in decarbonising our debate sectors like the industry, aviation, shipping and heavy duty transport and on the need to have ambitious targets both for 24 and 2030. Our priority is hydrogen produced from renewables and I am glad to see that we are in line with Parliament. However, we recognise the role of the low carbon hydrogen and play in a transition period.

SOUNDBITE (German), Angelika NIEBLER (EPP, DE), Of course, hydrogen economy has to be built up. We can't simply drive from zero to 100. However, right now, if we have the correct incentives so that we see investment.

SOUNDBITE (German), Angelika NIEBLER (EPP, DE), So I welcome the fact that this report makes very clear that we have to have a transitional phase where we have low carbon hydrogen. We have acted to ensure that we have technology neutrality in the report. It's not going to be politics that decides the technological solution.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Nicol&#225;s GONZ&#193;LEZ CASARES (S&amp;D, ES), What we have to do is ensure that we can exploit all of the synergies that exist in the energy sector and involve consumers as well as producers and take advantage of digitalisation with the integration of the energy system, we are proposing more electrification based on renewables and better interconnections of grids. We would recall the limited role of natural gas, but that can't be an excuse that prevents the necessary move away from fossil fuels or the encouragement that we have to give to alternatives.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jakop G. DALUNDE (Greens/EFA, DE), If we don't want to see another pandemic, such as the one we are living through, the only sustainable solution for decarbonisation is to have green hydrogen coupled with renewable energy, green hydrogen. Therefore, can be the way forward if we are prepared to put in the investment and not shackle future generations with huge debts and a terrible future, we need to be able to look at the future generations in the eye and assure them that we've done what we needed to do and that we've done everything that we could. Let's show our mettle.

Anouncemenet of the result of the vote: 411 in favour, 135 against, 149 in favour.