(Brussels) – The European Commission has defined in two “delegated acts” what type of hydrogen is considered “renewable” in the EU. This should ensure that all renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) are produced with electricity that comes from renewable sources.
“Additional” renewable energies for hydrogen
This means, among other things, that the principle of “additionality” for hydrogen set out in the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive is clarified: electrolysers for the production of renewable hydrogen must therefore obtain electricity from new renewable energy systems, according to the Commission. The aim is to ensure that the production of renewable hydrogen creates incentives to increase the amount of renewable energy available on the grid compared to the current amount. This should prevent the electricity used for hydrogen production from coming from older plants so as not to reduce the existing demand.
Producers can prove in various ways that the electricity used to produce hydrogen meets these requirements. The energy source is therefore considered renewable if it comes from production facilities that are directly connected to a renewable energy power plant and were commissioned no more than three years ago. However, this rule only applies from 2028 because then the demand for renewable energy and green hydrogen is expected to increase. This means that producers only then have to demonstrate that the purchase of electricity for their hydrogen production goes hand in hand with the development of corresponding additional renewable energy capacities.
Hydrogen is also considered green if the systems draw electricity from the grid, whose share of renewable energy in the local electricity zone averaged more than 90 percent last year.
In addition, such plants can produce green hydrogen that obtains electricity from regions where the CO2 emissions of the grid electricity in the respective electricity zone do not exceed a certain limit. This has led to a dispute between France and countries such as Germany in recent months. The assumption is that this would allow France to simply convert existing electricity from its nuclear power plants into “green” hydrogen, so to speak.
Criteria also apply to hydrogen production in third countries
For the purpose of counting towards the EU renewable energy targets, the requirements for the production of renewable hydrogen apply to both domestic producers and third country producers exporting renewable hydrogen to the EU. A certification system is intended to help “that producers in the EU or in third countries can demonstrate simply and easily that they comply with the regulations of the EU framework and can trade renewable hydrogen in the internal market”.
The legal acts are sent to the European Parliament and the Council, which have two months to examine them and either accept or reject the proposals. Upon request, the examination period can be extended by another two months.
Wording (PDF, free, 13 pages)
Delegated regulation on Union methodology for RNFBOs
Photos
The criteria for classifying “green” hydrogen were presented in Brussels. The EU Parliament cannot change this, only reject or approve it. The photo shows the EU Parliament in Strasbourg. © European Commission
