Interviews

Creating a  viable hydrogen  market

Interview with
Melissa Verykios, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and Member of the Board of Hydrogen Europe 

Melissa Verykios is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, the EU-backed public-private partnership supporting research and innovation in hydrogen technologies in Europe. 

She is also a Member of the Board of Hydrogen Europe, the European Association representing the interests of the hydrogen industry.Melissa joined Metacon-Helbio in 2017. 

She is closely involved in the structuring of field pilot projects using hydrogen systems in a range of innovative applications, including telecoms, shipping, and the stationary production of hydrogen and ammonia.Prior to joining the company, Melissa spent 10 years working in the finance industry in New York and London. 

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics & Business from the University of Athens, Greece, and a MSc in Finance from the Barcelona School of Economics, Spain.


L e a r n  m o r e  a b o u t :
C l e a n  H y d r o g e n  P a r t n e r s h i p

The short-term outlook for the European energy sector, of a horizon of 1 to 5 years, cements a continued focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We expect many European Union Member States and regions to implement policies and regulations aimed at accelerating the transition to low-carbon energy sources.  

The deployment of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, is expected to continue growing at a rapid pace. Interesting projections in official reports by Hydrogen Europe and IRENA show the potential growth path in detail.  

Meanwhile, incentives and subsidies for renewables are expected to drive investments and to expand the RE market. 

The development and deployment of energy storage technologies, such as hydrogen and batteries, will play a critical role in enabling the integration of intermittent renewables into the energy grid. One can only expect that transition measures like alternative low carbon fuels, including hydrogen, will gain additional attention as alternatives to fossil fuels in sectors like transportation and heavy industry. 

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies will see increased interest and investment, especially in industries with emissions that are difficult to eliminate through other means. 

Over the Longer-term (10+ years), the energy sector is preparing for Decarbonization Commitments with an optimistic approach. Many countries are setting ambitious goals for reaching net-zero emissions by mid-century or shortly thereafter. 

In the light of Renewable Dominance, renewables are expected to become the dominant source of energy in the long term, with wind and solar playing a central role. Improved energy storage solutions such as hydrogen will be key to their success.

Proudly, the mandate we are setting for the Hydrogen Economy for Green Hydrogen, particularly produced from renewable sources, is expected to become a major player in the long-term energy mix, especially for heavy industry and transportation, creating a stability in the energy market and delivering environmental targets for net zero emissions, following the targets set by FitFor55. 

After a fruitful period of research, Nuclear power is expected to experience a resurgence, as advanced reactor designs and renewed interest in nuclear energy as a low-carbon option gain momentum. 

Meanwhile, global efforts to combat climate change are likely to drive international cooperation and the implementation of more stringent carbon pricing mechanisms and emissions reduction targets. 

 In terms of the Hydrogen Economy, we have set sail for Hydrogen technologies to bring economic and social welfare to EU citizens, by generating growth and upskilling the EU workforce. In its strategic vision for climate-neutrality, the share of hydrogen in Europe’s energy mix is projected to grow from the current 2%, to 14% by 2050.  

 Hydrogen is key to the transition, yet a commercial green hydrogen market is complex to achieve, due to the scientific and technological challenges of the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier.
At the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, which is backed by the EU, and Hydrogen Europe, the hydrogen industry association, we are investing our efforts in public advocacy and awareness of the new regulatory frameworks of Member States as European policies on hydrogen production and use are structured. 

 The Clean Hydrogen Partnership has an entire ecosystem to deliver, which puts significant pressure on budgets, policy, technological breakthroughs and the commercialisation of economies of scale for the transition.  

 In collaboration with Hydrogen Europe through the European Commission DG RTD and the support of RepowerEU, the Partnership has secured €2.2 billion in subsidies to invest in hydrogen research and innovation projects over a period of 7 years. 

 To achieve an organic transition and ultimate success, we need to build up the infrastructure for transportation; bring projects to their final investment decision; support many areas like the Hydrogen Bank; address how we tackle development of European technologies; lower interest rates; create guarantees by governments; and, importantly, develop a strong growing domestic market with little uncertainty on the off-taker side. 

 Ensuring the economic viability of hydrogen-based solutions is crucial. Hydrogen needs to compete effectively with other energy sources in terms of cost and performance to gain broader acceptance. 

 These priorities reflect the EU’s commitment to transitioning to a sustainable, low-carbon energy system, and hydrogen is a central part of this vision. 

 My company, Metacon-Helbio, which was founded 20 years ago, was one of the first hydrogen companies established globally, and has since developed patented technologies that generate hydrogen through reforming biogas and other hydrocarbons, and turn-key plants for the production of hydrogen through electrolysis. RINA has been a valuable long-term partner. As RINA has grown exponentially in recent years, it is now considered as a one-stop shop for for market analysis, technology intel, EU program support and certification.

Hydrogen Europe envisions a combination of renewable energy, battery storage, electrification and, of course, green and clean hydrogen as complementary solutions to our energy transition.
  • Renewable Energy: The renewable energy sector is a clear protagonist in the transition. Wind, solar, and other renewable sources are leading the way in reducing emissions and providing clean electricity. 
  • Electric Vehicles (EVs): EVs and the associated manufacturing, charging infrastructure, and battery production are taking a leading role in decarbonizing the transportation sector. Hydrogen is very well placed especially for heavy-duty transport. 
  • Energy Storage: Energy storage technologies, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, are vital in integrating variable renewable energy sources into the grid, making them essential protagonists in the energy transition. 
  • Hydrogen Valleys: geographical areas where several hydrogen applications are combined into an integrated hydrogen ecosystem of production distribution and use, improving the economics behind the hydrogen network and triggering a transition, which can then be expanded and interrelated and connected. 
  • Smart Grids and Grid Modernization: The development of smart grids and modernization of the electricity grid are crucial to accommodate the increasing share of renewables and improve energy efficiency. 
  • Circular Economy: Sectors focusing on recycling of materials, reducing waste, and promoting a circular economy are playing a significant role in reducing resource consumption and emissions.

It is important to note that these sectors are interconnected, and the degree of their impact and prominence can vary by region and over time as policies, technologies, and market dynamics evolve. The European energy transition is a complex and evolving process that will require collaboration across multiple sectors to achieve the overarching goals of carbon neutrality and sustainability.


e-NG: from  the desert to your home 

Interview with 
Marco Alverà, Co-founder and CEO of Tree Energy Solutions (TES) 

Marco Alverà was born in New York, and is the co-founder of Zhero, a renewable energy company as well as shareholder and co-founder and CEO of Tree Energy Solutions (TES), world leading hydrogen and renewable gas player. Marco has more than 20 years of senior management experience in Europe’s most relevant energy companies and he is the author of The Hydrogen Revolution, selected as one of the FT’s best books of 2021. 

He began his career at Goldman Sachs in London before starting and selling a telecom company, and then moving to Enel, today one of the world’s largest green electricity companies. He subsequently moved to Eni, where he worked for over 10 until becoming Chief Midstream Officer also supervising the largest European gas portfolio. 

From 2016 to 2022 he was the CEO of Snam, where he positioned the company as an international leader in green hydrogen and green gas infrastructure. Since 2017 he has been non-executive Director of S&P Global, where he is also Chair of the Finance Committee. He is also a member of the Executive Board and of the Steering Committee of the Giorgio Cini Foundation in Venice and a Visiting Fellow of the University of Oxford. He is co-founder of the Kenta Foundation, active in promoting gender balance and combating educational poverty. He holds a degree in Philosophy and Economics from the London School of Economics. 

L e a r n  m o r e  a b o u t :​ 
T E S 

The Tree Energy Company (TES) is dedicated to one product where we want to be the leading provider in the world: electric natural gas, or e-NG.  

Inspired by trees, which use sunlight, water and CO2 to create oxygen, we are using renewable energy from solar panels and wind turbines to generate green hydrogen, which is then combined with recycled CO2 to create electric natural gas.
 
This gas can be transformed and transported using the existing infrastructure for LNG, including the pipelines, ships and liquefaction plants.
 
With a solar-and-wind + hydrogen supply chain we can have a cheap and infinite supply of hydrogen. It is a fast, affordable and feasible decarbonisation method.
 
e-NG and other e-fuels offer a huge potential as they solve a large number of the problems in the energy transition: they are storable energy with no intermittency, easily transportable using existing infrastructure, have a high energy density that is suitable for hard-to-abate industries, and enable CO2 utilisation and recycling. 
 
The market for e-fuels is potentially huge, at an estimated $5 trillion, that is, larger than today’s oil market, and offers an immediate solution for the energy transition. 
 
Indeed, we estimate tomorrow’s energy mix, achievable by 2050 or 2060, will be made up of 50% electrification and 50% green fuels, with the latter comprising e-fuels, bio fuels, and fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage. 

TES has already broken ground on four projects. The first in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, backed by the German government, will build and operate a floating LNG terminal. The terminal will receive its first LNG gas this winter, followed by e-NG in the future. This project could eventually supply 10% of Germany’s energy needs.
 
Each of our upstream projects is among the biggest hydrogen projects in the world, at over 500 MW.  
 
When we look at the energy transition in the short-term, rising interest rates and inflated supply chains are creating a crunch that may derail certain projects which may not have been based on a firm footing. 
 
However, in the medium to long term, the outlook is extremely positive: renewable energy will continue to cost less and less, particularly solar energy where prices are already below the equivalent of $80 per barrel of oil. We are capable of further reducing solar prices, to as low as $30 per oil barrel equivalent, so the priority now is PPWS – Putting Panels Where it is Sunny. 

Governments now need to promote and incentivise green hydrogen made from renewables, and build a system which connects solar and wind power to factories, homes and ships, so that once that connection is established it can last a thousand years.
 
At an international level, we believe countries will collaborate over these energy matters, as underlined by the recent meeting by Presidents Biden and Xi Jinping in San Francisco where they pledged to cooperate over climate issues.
 
Unlike the fossil fuel industry, where there is competition for global resources, solar and wind resources can be found everywhere, reducing the geo-political tensions around energy sourcing. This may lessen the need for technology independence in Europe in the area of climate change.
 
While we think Europe should invest in its own technologies, we believe this is more important from an industrial, rather than climate, point of view, in order to secure jobs and carry out research and development.
 
We are working closely with RINA in several areas of our business. First, we are collaborating on the Zhero Europe project co-founded by myself and three other energy experts, which is focused on high voltage electrical cables connecting North Africa to Europe. 
 
Meanwhile, TES is highly active in the maritime sphere, where RINA is a global leader. TES is working on a dual carrier ship which can carry both CO2 and CH4, while we also need shipping expertise to ship our own fuels, and for subsea surveys for our infrastructure.  

We see RINA as an ‘engineering solutions’ firm, offering hands-on consulting from strategy to implementation. Like our companies, RINA is dedicated to global excellence. 

With e-NG, we believe we are building the fastest, most efficient and affordable way to decarbonize the world energy market.  

This is particularly important when looking at global population trends. Five of the ten most populous nations at the end of the century will be in Africa, while in the same period Nigeria’s population will exceed that of China. We need to find an energy solution that works not only in Europe, or China, or California, but globally. 
 
In this context, we believe green hydrogen is not one of the energy transitions but the energy transition. It is a ‘forever hydrogen’.