Recent developments
Capacity additions
Supply expansion continued. Messer Belgium secured a permit for an air separation plant at North Sea Port, targeting 2028 commissioning and full capacity by 2035 to serve industrial and medical demand along Lille–Rotterdam. EWE finalized scope for a 320 MW hydrogen production plant in Emden, enabling late‑2027 start-up and offtake negotiations within the IPCEI Clean Hydrogen Coastline.
Decarbonization technologies
Industrial decarbonization solutions advanced. thyssenkrupp Calvion was carved out to centralize Oxyfuel and other CO2‑reduction process technologies for cement, lime and related industries. RIFT progressed commercial plans with Iron Fuel production projects in Rotterdam, leveraging port logistics and growing availability of low‑carbon hydrogen; development will proceed over multiple years.
Materials constraints
According to the Johnson Matthey 2026 PGM Market Report, iridium remains in modest deficit as first commercial‑scale PEM electrolysis projects ramp, ruthenium stays tight on HDD demand, and platinum posts another shortfall, while palladium and rhodium trend toward small surpluses on recycling. EU policy signaling could prolong autocatalysts in hybrids, influencing PGM recycling flows relevant to electrolysis material supply.
Policy and markets
Regulatory dynamics affected green molecules. EnviTec Biogas reported weaker 2026 prospects after abolition of double GHG‑quota counting, reducing bio‑LNG contract viability; management guides recovery from 2027. These developments echo needs cited by EWE’s project for stable market mechanisms, clarified additionality criteria and GHG‑quota evolution to support bankable long‑term green‑hydrogen offtake.