Paris and Berlin set aside differences on ‘renewable’ vs ‘low-carbon’ hydrogen

(EurActiv, 28 Nov 2022) Germany and France appear to have set their differences on hydrogen regulation aside as part of wider efforts to resolve simmering tensions between the EU’s two largest countries.

Hydrogen is expected to play a critical role in decarbonising industries like steelmaking and chemicals, with the European Commission planning 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen production and 10 million tonnes of imports by 2030 to replace fossil gas.

However, France and Germany have clashed over EU rules that will govern the future production of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen in Europe.

At the heart of the dispute is the definition of “renewable” hydrogen against “low-carbon” hydrogen, which also includes fuels produced from nuclear power or natural gas with carbon sequestration technology.

France has insisted on recognising hydrogen made from nuclear electricity as green under the EU’s revamped Renewable Energy Directive, an idea firmly rejected by Germany, which said nuclear had no place under the directive.

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EurActiv, 28 Nov 2022: Paris and Berlin set aside differences on ‘renewable’ vs ‘low-carbon’ hydrogen

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