The Energy Strategy of Eu Member States from The Perspective of Opportunities and Limitations Related to the Replacement of Natural Gas with Hydrogen

The European Union’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 requires a rapid transition from fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, to low-carbon alternatives. This study is motivated by the strategic role hydrogen is expected to play in this transition. Despite numerous national hydrogen strategies, there is a lack of comparative research evaluating whether hydrogen can feasibly and economically replace natural gas across EU member states—representing a significant gap in the current literature. To address this, we conduct a comparative policy analysis of hydrogen strategies in selected EU countries, combined with a techno-economic assessment of hydrogen and natural gas. Key parameters include energy efficiency, infrastructure requirements, and cost structures, alongside physical and chemical characteristics. Our findings show considerable disparities in national hydrogen strategies, particularly in ambition, implementation timelines, and investment levels. While hydrogen offers several technical advantages, high production and infrastructure costs limit its near-term economic viability. The analysis suggests hydrogen is unlikely to fully replace natural gas by 2050 under current conditions, but it could play a complementary role if supported by further technological innovation and coordinated EU-wide policies.