Research and publications

  

 

 

 

THERESA RESEARCH FINDINGS (up to 25 October 2026)

At the time of the THERESA project’s inception in 2021, research on green hydrogen was predominantly focused on technical and economic aspects, with limited legal scholarship on the subject. Hydrogen regulation in the EU was governed by a fragmented framework of directives, with no dedicated legal instruments addressing its production, trade, or integration. Since then, the THERESA project has made significant contributions to advancing legal scholarship on hydrogen regulation, filling critical knowledge gaps and offering practical solutions to existing legal challenges. The research has produced groundbreaking insights into hydrogen regulation and governance. It has mapped the legal fragmentation affecting hydrogen infrastructure, highlighted the regulatory barriers to integrating hydrogen into national energy and climate policies, and examined hydrogen certification schemes to facilitate global trade. A new conceptual framework, the Hydrogen Prism, has been developed to analyse regulatory cohesion, risk mitigation, and compliance in the heavy-duty transport sector. The project has also pioneered legal research on citizen participation in hydrogen governance, revealing the limitations of the current “one-size-fits-all” approach and advocating for an equity-based legal framework to ensure a just energy transition. Furthermore, circular economy principles have been applied to hydrogen production and infrastructure, identifying legal barriers that hinder waste valorisation, resource efficiency, and sustainable water use. The project has also explored cross-sectoral regulation, providing a framework for regulatory sandboxes in hydrogen valleys, which could serve as experimental spaces for legal innovation and cross-sectoral integration. These findings have immediate policy relevance, particularly in light of recent regulatory developments. The comparative EU-US analysis conducted within THERESA offers valuable insights for regulatory learning and harmonisation. Moreover, the project has identified that current EU RFNBO requirements may create unintended barriers to international trade, necessitating adjustments to align with the EU’s hydrogen import objectives. By combining doctrinal, empirical, and comparative legal methodologies, the THERESA project is setting a new benchmark in hydrogen regulation research. Its results provide a robust legal foundation to support the EU’s vision for a sustainable, legally coherent, and globally integrated hydrogen economy.

PUBLICATIONS

  1. Forns-Gómez, Alba (2026), “Energy Justice in the EU Renewable Hydrogen Economy: Participation of the vulnerable in hydrogen decisions”, in Michael Kalis, Sirja-Leena Penttinen & Kim Talus (eds.), Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe, Routledge: London, pp. 234-252. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003669654-11
  2. Forns Gómez, Alba (2026), “Empoderamiento de la mujer en la toma de decisiones energéticas y su participación en una economía del hidrógeno europea”, in M.R. Zamora Roselló & J. Zapata Sevilla (eds.), Impacto de la transición energética desde la perspectiva de género, Atelier, pp. 85-104. https://doi.org/10.71237/Qv59FVg1
  3. Forns-Gómez, Alba (2026), “Unfolding the participatory gap between vulnerable and privileged groups: the hydrogen decision-making chain as a case study”, Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law (RECIEL), (forthcoming).
  4. Gallegos Aguirre, Francisca (2026), “RFNBO and Low-Carbon Certification in the EU. Legal Architecture and Emerging Challenges”, in Michael Kalis, Sirja-Leena Penttinen & Kim Talus (eds.), Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe, Routledge: London, pp. 68-104. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003669654-5
  5. Jiménez Casanova, Paola (2026), “Assessing the Sustainability Criterion of Hydrogen Infrastructure in the TEN-E Regulation”, in Michael Kalis, Sirja-Leena Penttinen & Kim Talus (eds.), Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe, Routledge: London, pp. 178-203. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003669654-9
  6. Kalis, Michael; Penttinen, Sirja-Leena; Talus, Kim (eds.) (2026), Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe, Routledge: London, pp. 1-458. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003669654
  7. Kalis, Michael; Penttinen, Sirja-Leena; Talus, Kim (2026), “Towards Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe? (Non-)concluding Remarks on a Nascent Field of Law”, in Michael Kalis, Sirja-Leena Penttinen & Kim Talus (eds.), Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe, Routledge: London, pp. 408-420. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003669654-18
  8. Martín Morán, Álvaro (2026), “Efficiency, ‘watts’ the problem? Addressing the energy paradox of the circular economy”, Revista de Direito Econômico e Socioambiental, vol. 17, n. 1, e587. https://doi.org/10.7213/rev.dir.econ.soc.v17i1.32988
  9. Martín Morán, Álvaro (2026), “Implementing Circularity in Hydrogen Valleys”, in Michael Kalis, Sirja-Leena Penttinen & Kim Talus (eds.), Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe, Routledge: London, pp. 322-349. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003669654-15
  10. Martín Morán, Álvaro (2026), “Water at the core: Spain’s water governance challenges for renewable hydrogen development”, Revista Eurolatinoamericana de Derecho Administrativo (ISSN 2362-583X), vol. 12, n. 1, (accepted, in press).
  11. Pailman, Kelsey (2026), “Regulating Hydrogen-Based Fuels in the EU Maritime Sector”, Climate Law, vol. 15, n. 3-4, pp. 371-391. https://doi.org/10.1163/18786561-bja10078
  12. Pettit, Jordie; Pinto, Jaqueline; Soliman Hunter, Tina; Taylor, Madeline; Fleming, Ruven (2026), “A regulatory framework for financing common user infrastructure in hydrogen hubs and valleys in the EU and Australia”, Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, pp. 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2026.2720023
  13. Pinto, Jaqueline (2026), “Hydrogen Valleys And Hubs In The European Union And United States. Regulatory Frameworks, Contractual Considerations, and Stakeholder Mapping for the Emerging Hydrogen Economy”, in Michael Kalis, Sirja-Leena Penttinen & Kim Talus (eds.), Hydrogen Law in the European Union and Europe, Routledge: London, pp. 255-290. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003669654-13
  14. Rehage, Ruben; Forns Gómez, Alba; Andreasson, Liv Malin (2026), “Public participation in the decision-making chain of hydrogen pipelines: Mapping the preference-regulation gap”, Energy Research & Social Science, vol. 136, 104732. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2026.104732
  15. Fleming, Ruven; Pailman, Kelsey (2025), “Hydrogen: What Does its Deployment at Speed and Scale Mean for Legal Systems?”, in Leonie Reins & Alexandre Zahar (eds.), Climate Technology and Law in the Anthropocene, Bristol University Press, pp. 121-136. https://doi.org/10.51952/9781529232912.ch006
  16. Forns Gómez, Alba (2025), “Energy Communities and Collective Public Participation: Legal Frameworks for an Inclusive Hydrogen Decision-Making Chain in the EU, Spain and The Netherlands”, in F. Tiche, L. Squintani, K. de Graaf, H. Vedder & E. Woerdman (eds.), Sustainable Energy: Still United in Diversity?: Integrating energy, climate and environmental law in times of geopolitical instability, European Environmental Law Forum Series, vol. 11, University of Groningen Press, pp. 91-110. https://research.rug.nl/files/1479185143/EELF_11_Sustainable_EnergyGomez.pdf
  17. Forns Gómez, Alba (2025), “¿Hacia una gobernanza justa e inclusiva del hidrógeno? Herramientas colectivas: Participación Pública y Comunidades Energéticas en la UE y España”, in Endrius Cocciolo & Susana Galera Rodrigo (eds.), El nuevo modelo energético descentralizado y de proximidad. Las comunidades energéticas, Tirant lo Blanch, pp. 653-682. https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/hacia-una-gobernanza-justa-e-inclusiva-del-hidr%C3%B3geno-herramientas
  18. Pinto, Jaqueline (2025), “Framework Conditions for Hydrogen Valleys in the EU: Understanding Legal Barriers to Cross-Sectoral Regulation”, Global Energy Law and Sustainability, vol. 6, n. 2, pp. 217-251. https://doi.org/10.3366/gels.2025.0143
  19. Pinto, Jaqueline; Hritsyshyna, Maryna (2025), “The Role of Climate Policy in the Hydrogen Economy: An Analysis of the EU and the US”, Cambridge Journal of Climate Research, vol. 2, n. 2, pp. 52-74. https://diamond-oa.lib.cam.ac.uk/entities/publication/c042de6b-efcc-4368-b1c9-3fa7b8c8a9a4
  20. Chege, Kennedy; Pinto, Jaqueline (2024), “Regulating Green and Low-Carbon Hydrogen in Africa: A Case Study of South Africa”, Advances in Science and Technology, pp. 15-24. https://doi.org/10.4028/p-Pv7uH9
  21. Cocciolo, Endrius (2024), “The Regulation of Hydrogen in the Transport Sector: Focus on Refuelling Stations”, in Ruven Fleming (ed.), The Cambridge Handbook of Hydrogen and the Law, Cambridge University Press, pp. 263-276. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009459259.023
  22. Forns Gómez, Alba; Rehage, Ruben (2024), “Is Public Participation in Hydrogen Matters (Un)just? Evaluating the Ex-/inclusion of the Vulnerable and Marginalised Individuals in the Hydrogen Decision-Chains of the EU, Spain and Germany”, Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law, vol. 21, n. 3-4, pp. 318-342. https://doi.org/10.1163/18760104-21030006
  23. Gallegos, Francisca (2024), “Bridging the Gap: Certification Schemes for Sustainable Hydrogen in Global Trade”, Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law, vol. 21, n. 3-4, pp. 239-273. https://doi.org/10.1163/18760104-21030005
  24. Gallegos, Francisca; Pinto, Jaqueline; Talus, Kim (2024), “Importing US-Produced Hydrogen and Its Derivatives into the EU: Examples of Unnecessary Complications, Barriers, and Distinctions”, Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law, pp. 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/02646811.2024.2341544
  25. Gallegos, Francisca (2024), “The Art of Certifying Hydrogen: A New Era in International Trade”, Oil, Gas and Energy Law, vol. 22, n. 3, pp. 1-32. https://erepo.uef.fi/server/api/core/bitstreams/f986b529-caab-4228-b4a7-f1713dd392f1/content
  26. Jiménez Casanova, Paola; Pinto, Jaqueline (2024), “Interpreting the Energy Efficiency First Principle: Help or Hindrance for the Hydrogen Economy?”, European Energy and Environmental Law Review, vol. 33, n. 6, pp. 274-288. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9459459
  27. Jiménez Casanova, Paola (2024), “Towards a Sustainable, Integrated, and Decarbonized Energy System in the EU: Addressing Structural Challenges Through Hydrogen System Planning”, Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law, vol. 21, n. 3-4, pp. 193-214. https://doi.org/10.1163/18760104-21030004
  28. Martín Morán, Álvaro (2024), “Diversifying Clean Hydrogen. Regulatory Barriers for a Circular Hydrogen Economy”, Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law, vol. 21, n. 3-4, pp. 167-192. https://doi.org/10.1163/18760104-21030003
  29. Pailman, Kelsey (2024), “The Hydrogen Prism: Angles of EU Hydrogen Regulation for Sustainable Mobility”, Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law, vol. 21, n. 3-4, pp. 274-296. https://doi.org/10.1163/18760104-21030011
  30. Pinto, Jaqueline (2024), “Dynamic Regulation: Instruments to Foster a Cross-Sectoral Hydrogen Economy?”, Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law, vol. 21, n. 3-4, pp. 215-238. https://doi.org/10.1163/18760104-21030008
  31. Rehage, Ruben; Forns Gómez, Alba (2024), “Accelerating Authorizations vs. Public Participation in the Decision-Making Chain of Renewable Hydrogen in Germany and Spain: a Dilemma”, Journal for European Environmental & Planning Law, vol. 21, n. 3-4, pp. 297-317. https://doi.org/10.1163/18760104-21030007
  32. Talus, Kim; Gallegos, Francisca; Pinto, Jaqueline (2024), “Realism at the End of the Rainbow? An Argument Towards Diversifying Hydrogen in EU Regulation”, The Journal of World Energy Law & Business, vol. 17, n. 4, pp. 217-233. https://doi.org/10.1093/jwelb/jwae007
  33. Pinto, Jaqueline (2023), “The Key Tenets of a Hydrogen Strategy: An Analysis and Comparison of the Hydrogen Strategies of the EU, Germany, and Spain”, Global Energy Law and Sustainability, pp. 72-95. https://doi.org/10.3366/gels.2023.0094

 

Send a Message

Contact

Email

endrius.cocciolo@urv.cat

Web

theresadn.eu