The Belgian Federal Government has recently presented the national hydrogen strategy, which aims to make Belgium not only the growing, major hub for the importation and transit of hydrogen in Europe, but also an energy-related technological innovation centre, owing to the crucial role played by its industrial fabric and by the networks of partnerships with neighbouring countries, and with other countries too. Belgian Prime Minister, Mr De Croo, pointed out that the hydrogen policy will be one of the key pillars of the country’s long-term energy strategy (along with renewable wind and offshore energy, next-generation nuclear energy and fossil fuels paired with carbon capture and storage) aimed at bolstering energy security in Belgium and in Europe. Furthermore, Minister of Energy, Ms Tinne Van der Straeten, has confirmed that the Government will invest about half a billion euros (already allocated by Belgium’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan) in hydrogen-related research and technology projects, and that it will work – including by passing new, targeted laws – to facilitate Belgium’s transformation into a hydrogen hub for Europe and, by instituting a ‘National Hydrogen Council’, to promote cooperation between the public and private sectors while helping Belgian enterprises go international. The Minister of Energy also announced she has issued a call for tenders to support the construction of the facilities required to import hydrogen and speed up its inbound flow to the country; the tender will allocate ten billion euros to fund the projects that meet specific requirements and that can be completed by 31 July 2026.
