Can the EU keep up with China in hydrogen technology? – DW – 06/11/2025
Electroysers, machines that split water and separate hydrogen from oxygen, are emerging as the new battleground in green technology between the EU and China. How can the EU stay competive?
At the John Cockerill factory in Belgium, engineers assemble electrolyzers, machines that use electrical energy to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. These electrolyzers are intended to run on renewable energy, transforming water into fuel for industries like ammonia and steel production, which are currently major polluters. However, European manufacturers face stiff competition from China, which holds over half of the global electrolyzer capacity.
To prevent the European market from being overwhelmed by cheaper Chinese electrolyzers, the EU has introduced criteria in its Net Zero Industry Act, ensuring that funding does not automatically go to the lowest bids, often from China. This move aims to diversify supply chains and support European manufacturers, despite China's dominance in the global market due to high production capacities and substantial government aid.
This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.
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