| | SEPTEMBER 20218E ERGYTech ReviewIN MY OPINIONIn May this year, the EU's hydrogen strategy was passed by the European parliament, with the aim of pushing hydrogen into the mainstream and creating a 140 billion market which is forecast to create more than 140,000 jobs in Europe by 2030. The promise of hydrogen is to address the climate emergency by exponentially increasing Europe's share of renewable electricity. But can commercial hydrogen be the silver bullet for the energy transition- and if so, how should energy leaders prepare for it?The dramatic expansion of once-expensive energy technology, such as solar PV and offshore wind, shows how rapidly technology can scale to reach grid parity when supported by policy. In the case of hydrogen, there is a strong argument for assuming a technology agnostic approach ­ by future proofing existing systems to ensure new technology investments are compatible with the current and future clean energy mix. History shows that an industry transformation such as the clean energy transition will most likely render a mosaic of technologies and fuels. SHOULD LEADERS BET ON HYDROGEN ­ OR FUTURE AGILITY? By Björn Ullbro, Vice President for Europe and Africa, Wärtsilä Energy BusinessCutting costs and emissions in line with the EU's goal is linked with the urgent need to exponentially increase Europe's share of renewables, placing flexible capacity at the heart of the business caseBjörn Ullbro
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