The European Commission has published a long-awaited set of rules with more relaxed requirements that define what hydrogen can be considered "green".
Eco-activists have criticized the new standards because they leave the "door open" for hydrogen produced from fossil fuels until 2030, EURACTIV reports.
The material emphasized that the key principle is that from 2030, hydrogen production must match additional renewable energy production on an hourly basis. Until 2030, monthly correlation will be applied. This will help the hydrogen industry to take off.
The authors emphasized that hydrogen production is an energy-intensive process that requires a significant amount of electricity to power the water electrolyzers that generate the gaseous fuel. Additionality ensures that electrolysers will not raise prices for electricity consumers
It is noted that countries with a low-carbon structure of electricity, i.e. nuclear, are allowed to deviate from the principle of additionality. This will have to demonstrate an equivalent amount of RES through the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) system. Energy can come from existing renewable energy installations, not necessarily additional ones. Such countries are France and Sweden.
The article emphasized that the Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection of Germany called the new rules an important step for expanding the "green" hydrogen market.
The authors noted that the hydrogen industry also welcomed the new rules, although they criticized their bureaucratic and impractical requirements. There are risks that the production of hydrogen fuel for transport will only be possible in a few European regions.
"The European Commission's plan to produce so-called 'green' hydrogen using electricity from fossil gas or coal-fired power stations is certainly the gold standard of greenwashing," said Dominic Eagleton, senior campaigner at Global Witness.
It is noted that the European Parliament and the European Council will have 2 months to accept or reject the proposals.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen concluded memorandum on strategic partnership in the field of renewable gases, namely hydrogen and biomethane.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, the administration of US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced the allocation $47 million for the development of affordable green hydrogen technologies.
