ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this episode.
Hydrogen has the potential to play a critical role in decarbonising industry, but how can the sector move beyond ambitious targets and turn promising technologies into commercially viable projects? In this special episode of EIC Inside Energy, produced in partnership with the Hydrogen Technology World Expo and Carbon Capture Technology World Expo, Stuart Broadley is joined by Susanne Thöle, Director of Hydrogen at Uniper, to explore the practical challenges of building a hydrogen economy in Europe.
Susanne discusses two flagship projects demonstrating how the hydrogen value chain is taking shape: a 30MW green hydrogen production facility in eastern Germany, connecting renewable electricity, electrolysis, pipeline infrastructure and an industrial refinery, and an ammonia cracking demonstration plant designed to convert imported ammonia back into hydrogen. The conversation examines why Europe will need both domestic hydrogen production and international imports, alongside the infrastructure, industrial partnerships and customer commitments required to make these projects work. Susanne also explains why the hydrogen market has become more challenging, with investment decisions taking longer, regulation adding complexity and securing long-term customer demand remaining a significant hurdle.
Stuart and Susanne explore why regional industrial clusters can provide a practical starting point for hydrogen deployment, how modular technologies and lower capital costs could accelerate future projects, and why operational experience will be essential to scaling the industry. At the heart of the discussion is a fundamental question: how can the hydrogen sector move from ambition to delivery, building the reliable infrastructure, credible business models and genuine market demand needed to make hydrogen a dependable part of Europe’s future energy system?
What Is the EIC?
The Energy Industries Council (EIC) is one of the world’s largest energy trade associations. As a not-for-profit organisation, it supports more than 950 member companies involved in the global energy value chain. EIC operates internationally, with offices in London, Kuala Lumpur, Rio de Janeiro, Houston, Dubai, and soon, Berlin.
It is energy agnostic, supporting all parts of the energy sector. From mature renewable onshore and offshore sectors like wind, solar and hydropower; to grid infrastructure and large nuclear; to hydrocarbon sectors like oil & gas, LNG, FPSO, decommissioning, upstream, midstream and downstream; to emerging low-carbon sectors like hydrogen, carbon capture, CCUS, energy storage, BESS, biofuels, SAF (sustainable aviation fuels), and geothermal.
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Produced, engineered, and promoted by: Samara Bernardo, Lucas Almeida, João Otero, Isabella Costa, Laura Carvalho, and Clara Machado.
