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structure also presents a challenge. For cars, for other energy technologies, such as PVs, wind and
example, hydrogen prices for consumers are highly shale gas.
dependent on how many refuelling stations there
are, how often they are used and how much hydro- Governments will be crucial in determining whether
gen is delivered per day. Tackling this is likely to hydrogen succeeds or fails. The more than 200
require planning and coordination that brings toge- clean hydrogen projects under way worldwide still
ther national and local governments, industry and rely heavily on government support. Europe is a le-
investors. ader in this area. But smart policies can encourage
A third challenge is regulation. For new and emer- the private sector to secure long-term supplies of
ging technologies such as hydrogen it is important clean hydrogen and give investors the incentives to
for the industry to have clarity on the regulatory back the best businesses.
environment, ensuring that unnecessary regulato- There is no one-size-fits-all for hydrogen policy.
ry barriers are removed and a supportive business But there are several important areas where go-
environment is created, not only within each count- vernments could focus their actions within the next
ry but also beyond border. For the specific case of 10 years to make sure that this time will be diffe-
hydrogen, however, due attention has to be paid rent than the ones in the past. The IEA suggests
to safety regulation. The instances in 2019 where governments to focus on the following key areas:
explosions at hydrogen fuelling stations (such as 1. Establish targets and establishing a role for
in Norway) and in storage tanks (such as in Korea) hydrogen in countries’ long-term energy stra-
are an important reminder about the importance of tegies. Governments should ensure that policy
such regulation. frameworks developed for reaching the visions
for 2030 and 2050 includes the role of hydro-
gen.
What is the path forward? 2. Support demand creation. Governments
While the factors in favour of a sustained upswing should start activities and programs that dri-
in investment in hydrogen are much stronger and ves demand for hydrogen and are encouraged
better aligned than in any prior period, significant to look at policies that put an economic value
challenges still need to be addressed. Overcoming on hydrogen for its use in new applications or
these challenges will be central to launching the vir- from new sources.
tuous cycle for hydrogen costs that has benefited 3. Mitigate investment risks. Governments

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