At the World Hydrogen Summit 2026 in Rotterdam, one message stood out: the hydrogen economy has entered a new phase. The conversation has shifted from technological feasibility and pilot projects to a far more pressing question, how do we turn existing infrastructure, available capital and political momentum into a functioning hydrogen market?
Three themes dominated the debate: energy resilience and scale, cost reduction and bankability, and the development of cross-border infrastructure. The industry is no longer asking whether hydrogen will play a role in the energy transition, it is asking how to make that role commercially viable.
The conclusion was nuanced but unmistakable. Hydrogen technologies have matured and are increasingly deployed at industrial scale. The key bottleneck, however, lies on the demand side. Without long-term off-take agreements, security of supply and a predictable regulatory framework, projects struggle to reach financial close. Demand creation has therefore become the central challenge that will determine the pace of market development.
From a legal perspective, this shift places greater emphasis on structuring complex partnerships, facilitating infrastructure investment and providing regulatory certainty. Issues relating to ownership, access rights and long-term liability (particularly in relation to transport and storage) are moving to the forefront of legal practice.
Why large-scale storage is the missing piece
Large-scale energy storage remains a critical condition for a well-functioning hydrogen market. While batteries play an important role in short-term balancing, they are insufficient for seasonal storage and long-term system stability. It is here that hydrogen offers a distinct advantage.
In the Netherlands, Gasunie is playing a key role in developing hydrogen infrastructure, including storage solutions. A symbolic milestone was reached in May 2026, when King Willem-Alexander formally marked the commissioning of the first section of the national hydrogen network in Rotterdam. This event underlined both the political commitment and the strategic ambition of the Netherlands to position itself as a hydrogen hub for north-western Europe.
Different storage solutions serve complementary roles. Salt caverns provide fast, flexible storage for short-term demand fluctuations, though total capacity remains limited. For seasonal storage and strategic reserves, depleted gas fields offer significantly larger capacity and are expected to become indispensable for long-term balancing of supply and demand.
Both forms of storage raise complex legal questions. Permitting, safety standards and liability regimes must be clearly defined, alongside fundamental issues such as ownership, third-party access and long-term responsibility for subsurface assets.
Offshore hydrogen hubs: the North Sea as Europe's powerhouse
The North Sea continues to play a central role in Europe’s future hydrogen system. The combination of large-scale offshore wind capacity and proximity to industrial clusters provides a strong foundation for hydrogen production.
Current developments increasingly focus on integrated system design. Concepts are emerging in which offshore wind power is partly connected directly to the electricity grid and partly converted into hydrogen. This combination enhances flexibility, reduces grid congestion and allows energy to be transported and stored in different forms, depending on system needs.
Such hybrid configurations illustrate how the energy system is evolving from isolated infrastructure towards an integrated network in which electricity and molecules reinforce each other. They also highlight the scale at which projects are now being developed: gigawatt-level initiatives are no longer theoretical but are actively progressing across north-western Europe.
The global context: resilience as a commercial imperative
The industry's focus on demand creation and bankability at the Summit reflects a structural reality documented in both the IEA Global Hydrogen Review 2026 and the Hydrogen Europe Quarterly (Issue 15, June 2026). Escalating conflict in the Middle East has exposed the acute vulnerability of hydrogen-based commodity supply chains to geopolitical disruption, with impacts extending directly to ammonia, methanol and fertiliser markets. The IEA reports that the Middle East accounts for more than one-sixth of global hydrogen production, over 10% of global ammonia and urea output, and close to 17% of methanol production. Disruptions, such as the Strait of Hormuz closure have contributed to global shortages and significant price volatility, with urea prices doubling between January and May 2026.
The Quarterly reinforces this exposure from a European perspective, noting that nearly 60% of Europe's energy needs are met by imports. This underpins industry calls for reliable, predictable energy prices and reduced dependence on vulnerable supply routes. Both publications converge on the same conclusion: geopolitical shocks have elevated resilience to a central European priority, driving renewed strategic focus on hydrogen as a pillar of energy sovereignty.
At EU policy level, the Quarterly points to the Industrial Accelerator Act, the Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Plan and the April "Accelerate EU" communication, including a commitment to review the RED III Delegated Acts on RFNBOs, as the principal instruments designed to accelerate scale-up and reduce import dependency. Yet the IEA cautions that hydrogen's contribution to diversification and security will not be immediate: uptake takes time, infrastructure investment is required, and policy support remains necessary to close the cost gap with incumbent fuels.
For the Netherlands and its European partners, the implication is direct: without bankable off-take arrangements, investment-grade regulatory frameworks and the cross-border infrastructure now being developed, the strategic ambition captured in Rotterdam risks stalling at the project pipeline stage.
Bridging borders: public-private partnerships and cross-border infrastructure
The development of a hydrogen market is inherently international. Public-private partnerships remain essential to bridge the gap between policy ambitions and commercial reality. In the Netherlands, the National Hydrogen Programme demonstrates how governments and industry collaborate to address funding challenges and regulatory barriers.
At the same time, regulatory frameworks are still catching up. The Dutch Energy Act, which entered into force on 1 January 2026, provides an important foundation for an integrated approach to electricity, gas and hydrogen systems. However, further elaboration is required to create the level of legal certainty needed for large-scale investment.
The most significant development concerns cross-border infrastructure. At the Summit, Gasunie, Open Grid Europe and Thyssengas confirmed their cooperation on a hydrogen connection between the Netherlands and Germany, targeting completion around 2031, a concrete step towards a European hydrogen backbone linking national networks and industrial demand centres.
Such cross-border initiatives introduce significant legal complexity. Questions regarding applicable law, tariff structures, regulatory oversight and the allocation of ownership and usage rights between transmission system operators require careful coordination between national authorities and private stakeholders.
What comes next: a decisive phase
The World Hydrogen Summit 2026 made clear that the hydrogen market is approaching a decisive phase. The technological foundations have largely been established, infrastructure development is underway and political support remains strong.
The central challenge now lies in making the market work. This requires a credible business case based on long-term demand, supported by stable and transparent regulation, and enabled by interconnected infrastructure across Europe. The coming years will determine whether hydrogen fulfils its potential as a cornerstone of a resilient and decarbonised energy system.
Ready to move your hydrogen project forward?
Our ET&I Team (Energy, Transition & Infrastructure) advises clients at the intersection of regulation, investment structuring and financing, from initial permitting to final project financing. Whether you are structuring public-private partnerships, navigating cross-border regulation or securing rights for storage sites, we lay the legal foundations on which your hydrogen project can grow. Get in touch with Gaike Dalenoord or one of our ET&I specialists to discuss how we can support your next step.
