Nine EU countries want low-carbon hydrogen included in bloc’s renewables goals

(EurActiv, 3 Feb 2023) EXCLUSIVE. Nine EU member states, including France, have called on the European Commission to include low-carbon hydrogen – produced from nuclear electricity – in the EU’s renewable hydrogen targets.

France, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Hungary and Czechia made the call in a letter sent to the European Commission on Wednesday evening (1 February).

Their demand is based on the principle of “technological neutrality” and “member states sovereignty and competences to decide of their energy mixes,” as defined in the EU treaties.

These principles were reaffirmed in mid-January by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a bilateral summit in Paris.

At the meeting, Scholz recognised the role of nuclear in attaining EU decarbonisation goals, while Macron agreed not to obstruct the development of the H2Med hydrogen pipeline linking Spain to Germany.

The two leaders even announced a “joint roadmap” for the development of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen.

Low-carbon hydrogen

In their letter, the energy and industry ministers of the nine member states are calling for this “shift in thinking” to be reflected in the EU’s renewable energy directive (RED), which is currently being revised for the third time.

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EurActiv, 3 Feb 2023: Nine EU countries want low-carbon hydrogen included in bloc’s renewables goals