Repower EU, the European Commission’s roadmap for ending the EU’s reliance on Russian natural gas, features a key role for renewable energy, now not only expected to reduce fossil fuel-based electricity generation but to also significantly contribute to green hydrogen production, which is planned to replace natural gas in a wide range of uses.

The European Commission intends, through Repower EU, to accelerate the EU’s existing Fit for 55 plan, aiming for a 55 percent reduction of carbon emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Green electricity generation units incorporated into this framework are expected to offer annual natural gas consumption savings of 170 bcm.

Brussels plans to boost the EU’s installed wind and solar facilities by 80 GW to support green hydrogen production.

“Twenty million tons of hydrogen can replace 50 bcm of Russian natural gas,” noted Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal, during the presentation of the Repower EU roadmap.

Licensing procedures will need to be simplified for the development of new RES projects, the Repower EU plan stresses.