Industry alliance rebels against ‘all-renewable’ hydrogen

(EurActiv, 25 Jun 2020) The EU’s draft hydrogen strategy focuses too heavily on hydrogen produced from renewable electricity, says an industry alliance bringing together major oil and gas companies, as well as the steel and ceramics sector.

A group of industries have rebelled against EU plans to prioritise renewables-based hydrogen, saying the fossil-based sort should also be promoted in order to ramp up production volumes in the early stages of development.

The EU’s current definition of “clean hydrogen” is too narrow and should be broadened, taking a technology-neutral approach, the group argues in a lettersent to the European Commission on Wednesday (24 June).

“Renewables will emerge as a leading source for the production of hydrogen in the long run. Until we get there, the EU must seize existing opportunities and that means using all sources of clean hydrogen,” said James Watson, who chairs the steering committee of GasNaturally, a campaign group from the natural gas sector which was among the 33 signatories of the letter.

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EurActiv, 25 Jun 2020: Industry alliance rebels against ‘all-renewable’ hydrogen