Europe's Electrolyser Manufacturers Launch Unified Coalition and Unveil Manifesto to Secure Industrial Leadership

Brussels, 9 February 2026

Europe's leading electrolyser manufacturers formally launched Electrolysers for Europe in the European Parliament on Wednesday, 4 February, unveiling a joint manifesto setting out a clear vision to secure Europe's global leadership in clean hydrogen technologies.

Hosted by MEP Radan Kanev (EPP, Bulgaria), the launch brought together senior policymakers, including Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), Aleksandra Kordecka, Member of the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné, and MEP Bruno Tobback (S&D, Belgium), alongside the CEOs and senior executives of ITM Power, John Cockerill, Nel Hydrogen, Sunfire, Thyssenkrupp Nucera and Topsoe.

The coalition's central message was clear: Europe has built world-class electrolyser manufacturing capacity. The next step is ensuring that deployment and market conditions match that industrial capability.

Over the past four years, Europe's electrolyser industry has expanded annual manufacturing capacity from around 1 GW to more than 10 GW, accounting for approximately 30 percent of global capacity. Executives stressed that industrial readiness is no longer in question.

"Europe must rethink energy in terms of sovereignty and resilience, and it must build and protect its own industry and supply chains for critical clean-energy equipment," said Dennis Schulz, CEO of ITM Power. "Today, Europe leads the world in electrolysers - a technology essential for decarbonisation and an infrastructure building block supporting grid stability and energy storage. Global competition is intense and Europe's position is being challenged. The prize is an industry worth hundreds of billions. It is time to shift gears and accelerate industrial demand with clear policy signals and planning certainty."

Despite rapid manufacturing expansion, less than 1 GW of electrolyser capacity is currently installed in the EU, while legislation foresees at least 25 GW by 2030. Industry leaders emphasised that the bottleneck lies not in technology, but in market creation and deployment certainty.

Nicolas de Coignac, CEO of John Cockerill Hydrogen, underlined the importance of aligning policy with industrial ambition: "Electrolysers are a cornerstone of Europe's industrial decarbonisation, but scaling their deployment demands real coherence across legislation, funding and permitting. Europe has the expertise - now it must create the conditions for action by enforcing existing directives and creating flexibility where constraints slow progress. Europe should build on the regulatory foundation already in place, avoid reinventing what works, and set clear intermediate milestones to prime both the market and demand. European OEMs must rely on their home market to improve their competitiveness which results from experience and progressive massification, especially as other large markets are gaining traction today thanks to national demand. Europe can't afford to lag behind."

Kim Saaby Hedegaard, CEO, Power-to-X, Topsoe, emphasised the importance of a strong European manufacturing base for energy security and resilience. "Electrolysers are key for Europe's energy security and independence. We believe that a strong manufacturing base is critical as it reinforces Europe's resilience to geopolitical shocks and supply chain vulnerabilities."

Håkon Volldal, CEO of Nel Hydrogen, stressed the need for a robust European industrial policy to safeguard long-term technological leadership. "Europe needs to maintain technological leadership in electrolysers and learn from the lessons of the past. This requires a robust European industrial policy that supports the development of a resilient value chain that can withstand external shocks and ensures that European-funded projects support value creation in Europe."

Nils Aldag, CEO of Sunfire, highlighted how strengthening domestic production reinforces Europe's resilience. "Electrolysers for Europe unites Europe's electrolyser manufacturers to speak with one voice. By strengthening domestic production and fostering a robust hydrogen market, Europe can reduce dependencies, enhance resilience, and unlock the economic benefits of the energy transition."

Lydia Sandhowe, Senior Director Strategy and M&A of Thyssenkrupp Nucera, highlighted the global dimension. "Europe has established a strong industrial base in electrolysis. But global competition is intensifying. Stable regulatory frameworks and clear demand signals are essential if Europe is to retain its leadership and attract long-term investment."

The manifesto calls for coherent and timely implementation of EU legislation, workable hydrogen definitions, streamlined and effective funding instruments, and demand-side mechanisms that unlock projects at scale. It also highlights the importance of clear Made in Europe criteria that reward European industrial value and strengthen resilient supply chains.

According to industry estimates, large-scale electrolyser deployment could unlock up to €200 billion in export value and support around one million direct jobs across the hydrogen value chain, while enabling decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors such as refining, steel, ammonia and sustainable fuels.

MEP Radan Kanev welcomed the formation of the coalition and the clarity of its message. "Electrolysers are strategic infrastructure for Europe's energy and industrial future. Ensuring that this technology is developed, manufactured and deployed in Europe is essential for competitiveness, resilience, long-term prosperity and European leadership in innovative industrial technologies."

Earlier in the day, representatives of the coalition met with DG CLIMA Director-General Kurt Vandenberghe to discuss how EU climate and industrial policy can better support the scale-up of Europe's electrolyser manufacturing base and accelerate deployment.

The launch marks the formal consolidation of Europe's leading electrolyser manufacturers under a unified platform. The coalition's objective is to align industry and policymakers around a shared pathway to 2030 and beyond - one that translates Europe's industrial strength into sustained global leadership.

The full manifesto is available at: https://www.electrolysers4europe.eu/manifesto

About Electrolysers for Europe Electrolysers for Europe is the unified voice of Europe's electrolyser manufacturers. Our members design, build, and deploy world-class electrolyser technologies that turn renewable and low-emission electricity into green and low-carbon electrolytic hydrogen.