Strategic policy targets and the contribution of hydrogen in a 100% renewable European power system

The goal of the European energy policy is to achieve climate neutrality. long-term strategies various countries include additional targets such as diversification sources, maintenance security supply, and reduction import dependency. When optimizing systems, these strategic are often only considered in a rudimentary manner thus, understanding corresponding interdependencies lacking. Moreover, hydrogen key component fully decarbonized system, but its role power sector remains unclear due low round-trip efficiencies. This study reveals how systems can benefit from terms overall system costs achievement targets. We analyzed broad spectrum scenarios using an optimization model varied constraints that reflect Our results threefold. First, compared without hydrogen, realize savings 14–16% total costs. Second, implementation infrastructure reduces number infeasible when structural within system. Third, highly diverse at national level. Particularly, with renewable potential, plays crucial role. Here, high levels self-sufficiency supply achieved by deploying hydrogen-based generation up 46% their annual electricity demand, realized via imports green hydrogen.