Towards Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe?: (Non-)concluding Remarks on a Nascent Field of Law

Michael Kalis; Sirja-Leena Penttinen; Kim Talus

doi:10.4324/9781003669654-18

Towards Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe? (Non-)concluding Remarks on a Nascent Field of Law

Michael Kalis, Sirja-Leena Penttinen, Kim Talus

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review

9 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This introductory chapter traces the evolution of the European Union's engagement with hydrogen within the broader context of EU energy policy, situating current measures against the backdrop of the Union's wider energy transition. It examines how hydrogen has emerged as a strategic element in the EU's decarbonisation agenda and analyses the role of law in facilitating its uptake, particularly in Europe. The chapter highlights the diverse legal and policy domains that are already influencing the development of the hydrogen sector despite its early-stage market maturity. In doing so, the chapter establishes the conceptual foundations upon which the subsequent contributions in this edited volume build.

Original language	Finnish
Title of host publication	Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe
Editors	Michael Kalis, Sirja-Leena Penttinen, Kim Talus
Place of Publication	Abingdon
Publisher	Routledge
Chapter	15
Pages	408-420
Number of pages	13
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-003-66965-4
ISBN (Print)	978-1-041-13075-8, 978-1-041-13411-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003669654-18
Publication status	Published - 22 Jul 2026
MoEC publication type	A3 Part of a book or another research book

Keywords

energy policy
hydrogen
energy production
Europe
energy
legistation
green transition
hydrogenation
energy transition
EU law

Field of science

Law
Economics

Access to research output

10.4324/9781003669654-18Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Towards Hydrogen Law in the European Union and EuropeFinal published version, 522 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Citation for this output

@inbook{03494ddba2474bf19fb3486675c2d9fb,

title = "Towards Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe?: (Non-)concluding Remarks on a Nascent Field of Law",

abstract = "This concluding chapter adopts a holistic perspective to synthesise the insights presented across the volume, each of which examines distinct components of the emerging regulatory architecture on hydrogen. Drawing together these contributions, the chapter reflects on the gradual emergence of hydrogen law in Europe. Our analysis demonstrates that, although hydrogen law cannot yet be characterised as a coherent field of law, a notable degree of coherence nonetheless arises from the shared objectives underpinning the diverse regulatory measures currently in place. These common objectives enable us to conceptualise the evolving framework as a regulatory ecosystem, which is sufficiently flexible and dynamic to develop in parallel with the maturing hydrogen market it seeks to steer. The chapter offers an integrative perspective on how the EU's legal landscape is shaping, and being shaped by, the transition towards a hydrogen-based energy system.",

keywords = "energy policy, hydrogen, energy production, Europe, energy, legistation, green transition, hydrogenation, energy transition, EU law, hydrogen, energy policy, legistation, architecture, hydrogenation, Community Law (EU), energy, intellectual property law, licences",

author = "Michael Kalis and Sirja-Leena Penttinen and Kim Talus",

year = "2026",

month = jul,

day = "22",

doi = "10.4324/9781003669654-18",

language = "suomi",

isbn = "978-1-041-13075-8",

pages = "408--420",

editor = "Michael Kalis and Sirja-Leena Penttinen and Kim Talus",

booktitle = "Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe",

publisher = "Routledge",

address = "Iso-Britannia",

}

Towards Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe? (Non-)concluding Remarks on a Nascent Field of Law. / Kalis, Michael; Penttinen, Sirja-Leena; Talus, Kim.
Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe. ed. / Michael Kalis; Sirja-Leena Penttinen; Kim Talus. Abingdon: Routledge, 2026. p. 408-420.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Towards Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe?

T2 - (Non-)concluding Remarks on a Nascent Field of Law

AU - Kalis, Michael

AU - Penttinen, Sirja-Leena

AU - Talus, Kim

PY - 2026/7/22

Y1 - 2026/7/22

N2 - This concluding chapter adopts a holistic perspective to synthesise the insights presented across the volume, each of which examines distinct components of the emerging regulatory architecture on hydrogen. Drawing together these contributions, the chapter reflects on the gradual emergence of hydrogen law in Europe. Our analysis demonstrates that, although hydrogen law cannot yet be characterised as a coherent field of law, a notable degree of coherence nonetheless arises from the shared objectives underpinning the diverse regulatory measures currently in place. These common objectives enable us to conceptualise the evolving framework as a regulatory ecosystem, which is sufficiently flexible and dynamic to develop in parallel with the maturing hydrogen market it seeks to steer. The chapter offers an integrative perspective on how the EU's legal landscape is shaping, and being shaped by, the transition towards a hydrogen-based energy system.

AB - This concluding chapter adopts a holistic perspective to synthesise the insights presented across the volume, each of which examines distinct components of the emerging regulatory architecture on hydrogen. Drawing together these contributions, the chapter reflects on the gradual emergence of hydrogen law in Europe. Our analysis demonstrates that, although hydrogen law cannot yet be characterised as a coherent field of law, a notable degree of coherence nonetheless arises from the shared objectives underpinning the diverse regulatory measures currently in place. These common objectives enable us to conceptualise the evolving framework as a regulatory ecosystem, which is sufficiently flexible and dynamic to develop in parallel with the maturing hydrogen market it seeks to steer. The chapter offers an integrative perspective on how the EU's legal landscape is shaping, and being shaped by, the transition towards a hydrogen-based energy system.

KW - energy policy

KW - hydrogen

KW - energy production

KW - Europe

KW - energy

KW - legistation

KW - green transition

KW - hydrogenation

KW - energy transition

KW - EU law

KW - hydrogen

KW - energy policy

KW - legistation

KW - architecture

KW - hydrogenation

KW - Community Law (EU)

KW - energy

KW - intellectual property law

KW - licences

U2 - 10.4324/9781003669654-18

DO - 10.4324/9781003669654-18

M3 - Luku

SN - 978-1-041-13075-8

SN - 978-1-041-13411-4

SP - 408

EP - 420

BT - Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe

A2 - Kalis, Michael

A2 - Penttinen, Sirja-Leena

A2 - Talus, Kim

PB - Routledge

CY - Abingdon

ER -