As per Euronews.green, experts at the NGO Global Witness warn that energy bills could double if companies decide to replace traditional gas with hydrogen, as it would cost them around 240 billion euros to switch the system to the new product in Europe.

At the same time, hydrogen is only considered a clean energy source if it is produced with low-emissions renewable power in the first place.

Experts say that "Europe does need to stop using gas, but there is a better alternative to hydrogen: energy savings and home heating sources such as heat pumps and district heating using renewable electricity."

Hydrogen-based households could see two times higher energy prices by 2050, from the 2021 cost of 0.67 euros per kilowatt, to 1.25 euros.

Some energy companies believe that customers should be those who will pay for the necessary infrastructure and hydrogen-production sites, which will cost around 240 billion euros over the next four decades or so.

A draft proposal made by EU officials back in December of 2021 implies that the cost of infrastructure should be split between both early adopters that will use hydrogen to heat their homes and those who aren't yet ready to give up on traditional gas.

This shared cost, however, can't go on forever and should happen for "one third of the depreciation period of the infrastructure concerned."

Still, Europe needs to transition away from polluting sources, which is why researchers at Global Witness say that hydrogen should be mostly used for certain industries, such as shipping, aviation and cargo transport.

Households, on the other hand, should focus more on renewable sources, such as solar and wind.

"It is clear that for households, switching to hydrogen would make Europeans already facing energy poverty even poorer", the representatives explained.