At the eceee Industrial Summer Study 2026 in Rome, Dr. Mariya Trifonova and Prof. Herbert Zondag presented findings from the EERA-EEIP White Paper on the roles of electrification and hydrogen in decarbonising European industry.

The presentation highlighted a key message: electrification and hydrogen are not competing solutions, but complementary ones. Direct electrification should be the preferred option where possible due to its high efficiency, while hydrogen should be prioritised for applications where it is essential, such as chemical feedstocks, hydrogen-based steelmaking, high-temperature industrial processes, and long-duration energy storage.

The EERA-EEIP research community also stressed the need for supportive policies, stronger energy infrastructure, affordable low-carbon electricity, and targeted support for innovative industrial projects to ensure a competitive and climate-neutral European industry.