Live from Copenhagen at World Hydrogen Week, hosts Jacqueline, Eric, Joachim, and Oghosa return for Season Two of the Global Tales of Carbon Transition Podcast. In this episode, they sit down with Marina Hritsyshyna, a hydrogen regulation specialist and lawyer, to unpack the complex but fascinating evolution of hydrogen in the global energy mix from Europe’s regulatory frameworks to Asia’s fast-rising influence and America’s pragmatic shifts.

Marina shares her personal journey from building wind farms in Ukraine to advising on renewable hydrogen regulation in the EU and Germany. Together, the hosts and Marina explore questions around RFMBOs, low-carbon vs. renewable hydrogen, and the fine balance between over-regulation and market growth.

The conversation weaves through:

• Why the EU remains a key player despite growing competition from Asia
• How India’s coal-based grid complicates hydrogen export ambitions
• The future of certification and life-cycle emissions standards
• The need for pragmatism and dialogue in EU regulation
• Whether hydrogen will stay in Europe’s top three energy vectors
• And ultimately, how optimism can coexist with complexity in the global energy transition

The episode closes on a hopeful note: that even amid regulation fatigue and geopolitical uncertainty, collaboration, innovation, and steady dialogue will define the next chapter of hydrogen’s story.

Topics Covered

• Renewable vs. low-carbon hydrogen
• European regulatory frameworks (RFMBOs, CBAM, Clean Industrial Deal)
• Global hydrogen market dynamics (EU, US, Asia)
• Certification and life-cycle assessment
• Policy-industry dialogue in the energy transition

Key Takeaways

• The EU’s hydrogen regulation remains central to its decarbonization agenda, but balance and flexibility are essential.
• Asia’s role, particularly that of China and India, is growing, but regulatory alignment with EU standards remains a significant hurdle.
• The dialogue between policymakers, industry, and innovators must deepen to achieve practical progress.
• The definition of “low-carbon hydrogen” is evolving, signaling a shift toward inclusivity and market realism.
• Hydrogen will likely integrate into broader energy systems, alongside renewables, nuclear, and CCUS, rather than exist alone.