Hydrogen: Opportunities and Pitfalls for a Sustainable Energy Transition

• Jurisdiction: European Union

Speaker

Peter Vajda is a lawyer by training with a master’s degree in environmental law. He has always been involved in issues related to the environment. After three years at the national environmental agency’s local office in Budapest, he worked as a seconded national expert at the European Commission’s DirectorateGeneral for Environment between 2007 and 2011 on EU law related to industrial emissions and hazards.

In 2012, Peter took up duties as Environmental Expert at the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna. In his current position, his geographical focus covers South East Europe, in particular the Western Balkans countries as well as Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. The main activities involve monitoring the implementation of the Energy Community acquis on environment and supporting the energy transition in the Contracting Parties. As of January 2018, he works as Senior Environmental Expert at the Energy Community Secretariat.

Topic

The presentation offers a comprehensive exploration of hydrogen's pivotal role as a promising fuel source in the ever-evolving energy landscape. It delves into the various facets of hydrogen, shedding light on its diverse types and the crucial roles it is set to play in shaping the future energy matrix. This includes an in-depth examination of hydrogen's significance in addressing the pressing energy challenges of our time.

The presentation underscores the importance of hydrogen as a versatile energy carrier, capable of facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources, decarbonizing industries, and enhancing energy security. Hydrogen, in its various forms, is poised to become a linchpin in the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon energy future.

An essential part of the presentation involves a critical assessment of the European Union's Hydrogen Strategy. This strategy serves as a beacon of guidance for harnessing hydrogen's potential in achieving energy goals, and the presentation examines its key features, objectives, and the pathways it outlines for the utilization of hydrogen in various sectors.

Furthermore, the presentation elucidates the vast potential of hydrogen-based technologies within the...