A coalition of more than 30 European energy, industrial, research and investment organizations has called on the European Union (EU) to accelerate exploration of naturally occurring hydrogen, arguing that regulatory uncertainty could leave the region behind international competitors.

In an open letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other senior officials, the group urges Brussels to recognise natural hydrogen explicitly in the 2026 Energy Union package and the forthcoming revision of the EU Hydrogen Strategy.

The coalition was initiated by Mantle8 and led by Hydrogen Europe. It argues that Europe has the scientific and industrial capabilities to investigate the resource but lacks clear rules governing exploration, investment and market access.

Natural hydrogen forms through geological processes underground and can accumulate in reservoirs. Unlike hydrogen manufactured using electricity or fossil fuels, it could provide a primary energy source if deposits prove economically recoverable. Its commercial potential, however, remains uncertain.

The letter proposes a €1 billion funding program to support around 50 exploration and appraisal wells in at least 10 member states. The proposed envelope would cover geological research, drilling, testing, pilot production and technologies needed to process hydrogen for market.

The signatories also want EU rules to assess natural hydrogen according to lifecycle emissions rather than exclude it as a production pathway. Projects would need to meet the bloc’s requirement for low-carbon hydrogen to deliver at least 70% greenhouse-gas emissions savings compared with unabated fossil fuels.

Other recommendations include transparent, faster permitting procedures and standardized access to publicly funded geological information, alongside a Europe-wide natural hydrogen atlas.

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