A Dialogue Between EU and North African States on a Regulatory Framework to Develop Green Hydrogen Supply, Demand and Trade

This event was the first in a series of workshops organised by IRENA and the European Union to enhance the dialogue over the challenges and policy measures needed to develop green hydrogen in the MENA region. The first workshop covered the North African context and the second the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The workshops are part of the Strategic Partnership for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (SPIPA) that facilitates exchange on climate policy option and good practice between the EU and non-European major economies and supports the European Union´s efforts on climate diplomacy. SPIPA is undertaking a series of outreach activities to support the development of a global regulatory framework for green hydrogen and its derivatives.

Broad agreement was reached on the expectation that global hydrogen trade will start to become important towards the mid- and long-term, however action needs to start today to develop the experience, demonstrate the technology and establish long-term relationships that will pave the way for bilateral trading initially followed by a liquid market. This is one of the themes of the MENA workshops. Also, four key pillars were identified – technology, standards and certification, financing, and the creation of a market – with the following associated policy measures needed to address each:

• coordinate the co-development of hydrogen supply and demand;
• establish a common methodology of certifying the GHG content of gases;
• finance hydrogen infrastructure development; and
• share lessons between countries.

The MENA workshops continue this dialogue and serve to look at policy solutions for the key challenges in the short term.

Aims of the workshop:

• Discuss the most conducive set-up for policy makers to develop green hydrogen across the whole supply chain and facilitate trade between the EU and MENA regions (baseline: EU regulations, IPHE methodology);
• Inform participants of the status of the IPHE Methodology, discuss the next steps needed to adopt it internationally and discuss possible policy frameworks needed to implement it; and
• Deepen the CFGH activities with the private sector to enable country representatives to better understand the short-term needs of industry.

The event gathered participants from government institutions, private sector representatives, development partners, academia and non-governmental organisations and potentially media.

The agenda and background document are available here.