A regulatory framework for financing common user infrastructure in hydrogen hubs and valleys in the EU and Australia

To progress more first-mover hydrogen projects to financial close, new regulatory approaches in hubs and valleys are required to reduce risk and cost for co-located infrastructure necessary for the production, storage and distribution of hydrogen. This study applies a systematic literature review (SLR) of frameworks, coupled with a legal comparative functional analysis, for co-financing renewable hydrogen infrastructure. It examines emerging common user infrastructure (CUI) approaches in Australia and infrastructure co-financing models in the European Union. The SLR highlights a significant gap in the literature for co-financing CUI in hydrogen hubs and valleys, with recommendations provided for a harmonised regulatory framework.