The European Commission has approved a significant investment of €998m to support a Dutch scheme focused on promoting the production of green hydrogen. This initiative falls under the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the European Green Deal, which are aimed at advancing the development of green hydrogen as a sustainable energy source. The funding will specifically aid in the construction of at least 200MW of electrolysis capacity in the Netherlands, with the process being conducted through a bidding system scheduled for completion by 2024. Projects interested in participating in the scheme must have a minimum capacity of 0.5MW. The financial support will be provided in the form of a direct grant, comprising an upfront investment grant of up to 80% of the investment costs and a variable premium over a period of five to ten years. Recipients of the grant will be required to demonstrate compliance with EU criteria for the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origins. This investment is crucial for the Netherlands' goal of achieving 500MW of electrolyser capacity by 2025 and 3-4GW by 2030, aligning with the broader EU target of reaching 40GW of renewable hydrogen electrolysers by 2030. Margrethe Vestager, the Executive Vice-President of Competition Policy, emphasized the significance of this funding in advancing renewable hydrogen production and ensuring fair competition practices. The EU's overall ambition is to enhance renewable hydrogen production and usage, with targets set at 6GW by 2024 and 40GW by 2030. Additionally, the German government has also taken steps to approve an import strategy for hydrogen, anticipating a significant national demand for hydrogen in the coming years.