Greek Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Christos Staikouras on Tuesday said the country would reach the target of achieving a yearly turnover of 10 billion euros by 2050 in the hydrogen supply chain.
Addressing the “Hydrogen Conference: The Hydrogen Economy—Prospects, Opportunities, and Challenges for Greece”, Staikouras said this would “pave the way for the development of the ‘Hydrogen Economy,” as the country’s stated target was to become climate-neutral by 2050, according to the National Strategic Plan.
The minister claimed Greece had the ideal conditions to produce the ‘new fuel’, namely, wind farms and solar parks, which could offer the country a comparative edge in Europe (Crete – creating Hydrogen Valleys).’
He went on to say that studies revealed hydrogen could cover between 20 and 50 percent of the energy demand in transportation and 5 – 20 percent in European industry by 2050, adding that Greece planned to prioritize the development of ‘green energy’, focusing primarily on heavy road transport, and aviation.
Priorities
“The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Energy, has issued a Joint Ministerial Decision outlining the licensing and operation procedures for hydrogen stations,” he stated.
Moreover, he clarified that auxiliary regulations would be introduced to address safety specifications for the operation of hydrogen maintenance and repair workshops, while a relevant Presidential Decree would be issued for the commencement of professional practice of hydrogen vehicle maintenance and repair technicians. Finally, the Minister said the goal was to establish at least 26 hydrogen stations in the country by 2030.
