State aid for energy transition : A qualitative study of the impact of the EU's hydrogen IPCEI on the sustainability transition in Europe

Green hydrogen is considered important in the energy transition in Europe. However, the current production capacities are far from the desired targets, and Europe lacks an infrastructure for hydrogen. The EU has launched the program "Important Projects of common European interest (IPCEI) on hydrogen" in 2021. The policy instrument allows Member States to use State aid in strategic value chains to support research, development, and innovation. This thesis investigates which features of hydrogen IPCEI support innovation and sustainability transition in Europe. A qualitative content analysis was conducted with the framework of socio-technical systems (STS), strategic niche management (SNM), and the multi-level perspective (MLP). The documents analyzed are stakeholder responses to a European consultation regarding reviewed IPCEI guidelines in 2021. Additionally, five expert interviews were completed. The analysis shows that the IPCEI framework includes innovation-fostering aspects but the performance of hydrogen IPCEI could be improved by better coordination. The most important elements supporting innovations are the collaborative character and the provision of public funding. Furthermore, IPCEI promotes upscaling by establishing a structure for communication. The findings also imply that administrative burdens and uncertainties could be reduced by providing guidelines for applications and evaluations, and by specifying how project results are shared.