European Union proposes rules for renewable hydrogen production

The first Delegated Act defines under which conditions hydrogen can be considered as renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) and clarifies the principle of ‘additionality’ for hydrogen set out in the EU's Renewable Energy Directive. Under the act, the EU has defined the conditions under which hydrogen can be considered renewable. Electrolysers for producing hydrogen must be connected to new renewable energy sources, and strict criteria are in place to ensure temporal and geographic correlation. The rules will be phased in gradually, and a certification scheme will enable easy compliance with the EU framework for renewable hydrogen production, the EU said in a press release.

The second Delegated Act provides a methodology for calculating life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions for RFNBOs. The methodology considers greenhouse gas emissions across the full lifecycle of the fuels, including upstream emissions, emissions associated with taking electricity from the grid, from processing, and those associated with transporting these fuels to the end-consumer. The methodology also clarifies how to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of renewable hydrogen or its derivatives in case it is co-produced in a facility that produces fossil-based fuels.

“Renewable hydrogen is a crucial component of our strategy for a cost-effective clean energy transition and to get rid of Russian fossil fuels in some industrial processes. Clear rules and a reliable certification system are key for this emerging market to develop and establish itself in Europe. These delegated acts provide much-needed legal certainty to investors and will further boost the EU’s industrial leadership in this green sector,” said Kadri Simson, commissioner for energy.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)