ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter traces the evolution of the European Union's engagement with hydrogen within the broader context of EU energy policy, situating current measures against the backdrop of the Union's wider energy transition. It examines how hydrogen has emerged as a strategic element in the EU's decarbonisation agenda and analyses the role of law in facilitating its uptake, particularly in Europe. The chapter highlights the diverse legal and policy domains that are already influencing the development of the hydrogen sector despite its early-stage market maturity. In doing so, the chapter establishes the conceptual foundations upon which the subsequent contributions in this edited volume build.
