ABSTRACT

Hydrogen is increasingly seen as a key element of Europe’s energy transition, central to both decarbonisation and energy security. This edited volume provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of what can be called “Hydrogen Law” in the European Union and Europe, examining how law and governance are shaping the emergence of a hydrogen market.

The volume brings together leading academic and practitioner perspectives to analyse the evolving regulatory framework for hydrogen across the entire value chain, from production and certification to infrastructure, markets, public funding, and international trade. It situates hydrogen within EU energy and climate law, explores key concepts such as renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, and addresses cross-cutting issues including state aid, network regulation, planning, public participation, and justice. Combining general legal analysis with regional and comparative case studies – such as hydrogen valleys, hubs, and partnerships with third countries – the volume highlights regulatory challenges, emerging solutions, and future pathways towards a coherent European hydrogen law.

The book is aimed at scholars, policymakers, regulators, legal practitioners, and advanced students working in energy law, EU law, sustainability, and the energy transition, as well as stakeholders involved in hydrogen markets and infrastructure development.

chapter |16 pages

Introduction

Title
Hydrogen Law

part I|236 pages

Foundations of Hydrogen Law

Title

chapter 1|36 pages

Situating Hydrogen in European Law

Title
In Search of a “Key Element” in the Legal Framework of the European Energy Transition

chapter 3|37 pages

RFNBO and Low-Carbon Certification in the EU

Title
Legal Architecture and Emerging Challenges

chapter 4|26 pages

Introducing Hydrogen to the European Energy Market

Title
Subsidies, Funding, and Other Instruments for the Ramp-Up of the Hydrogen Economy

chapter 5|23 pages

Clean Hydrogen Regulations in the United States of America

Title
A Tale of Two Acts

chapter 8|30 pages

Global Hydrogen

Title
Legal Design for the International Trade of Hydrogen

chapter 9|19 pages

Energy Justice in the EU Renewable Hydrogen Economy

Title
Participation of the Vulnerable in Hydrogen Decisions

part II|168 pages

Implementing Hydrogen Law

Title

chapter 10|36 pages

Hydrogen Valleys and Hubs in the European Union and United States

Title
Regulatory Frameworks, Contractual Considerations, and Stakeholder Mapping for the Emerging Hydrogen Economy

chapter 11|31 pages

Co-locating Hydrogen Infrastructure

Title
A Comparative Case Study of Hydrogen Valleys in the European Union and Hydrogen Hubs in Australia

chapter 12|28 pages

Implementing Circularity in Hydrogen Valleys

Title
How the Circular Economy Enables the Asturias H₂ Valley Project

chapter 13|24 pages

Hydrogen in the Baltic Sea Region

Title
An Emerging Hub and Its Framework

chapter 14|34 pages

The Euro-Africa Hydrogen Partnership

Title
Promise, Power, and Pitfalls

chapter 15|13 pages

Towards Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe?

Title
(Non-)concluding Remarks on a Nascent Field of Law