Designed to provide actionable insights through a combination of analysis and focused debates, the Aurora Hydrogen Conference 2023 looked at unlocking opportunities and maximising the value of hydrogen production and utilisation in the short- to medium-term. Considering the role of hydrogen in reaching Net Zero, and the European policy and market landscape, this was an unmissable event.

Drawing over 470 delegates, the Aurora Hydrogen Conference proved once again to be the place to meet, interact, and share views with other major players in the hydrogen space. The event offered plenty of opportunities for networking during the day, including a drinks reception in the evening. Many policy makers, project developers, manufacturers, banks, and investors attended, and delegates had the chance to hear from key industry leaders.

Facing further acceleration due to the energy crisis, European nations have set out increasingly ambitious plans and targets to decarbonise the economy. Hydrogen and derived fuels will be a key enabler of this transition, playing a significant role in decarbonising industry and heavy transport. The European Union targets 130 GW of electrolysers by 2030, whilst the UK targets a further 10 GW of hydrogen production. The pipeline of electrolyser projects continues to grow, with Aurora tracking a total of over 1,000 GW globally, of which, more than 150 GW target deployment in Europe by 2030.

Whilst the ambition level is high, significant efforts are now needed to bring the vision to reality. The foundations of growth are being laid in the form of defined hydrogen standards and planned support mechanisms for hydrogen. Industry is rapidly innovating, and the scale of planned projects is ramping up quickly, but there are still significant barriers to address before the mass rollout of hydrogen can be realised—in particular, to find repeatable, investable business models and offtake agreements.