EU emissions regulation must relax rules for green hydrogen production – researchers

The EU should review its planned industry emissions directive and better distinguish between different forms of hydrogen production to facilitate the expansion of electrolyser technology as a prerequisite for a successful energy transition, German climate policy research institute IKEM has said. “The production of hydrogen using natural gas must be gradually decarbonised and therefore be made subject to stricter requirements,” the institute said. But producers of green hydrogen that use renewable power instead should enjoy “privileges” with respect to licensing procedures and legal duties, IKEM said. The researchers say conditions outlined in the industry emissions directive unnecessarily hamper the roll-out of electrolyser capacity and argue that regulation should also make a better distinction between large- and small-scale producers, as initiatives by companies to produce hydrogen for own and local use could be discouraged.

The Geman government coalition agreement aims to achieve an electrolysis capacity of about 10 gigawatts (GW) by the end of the decade. Industry groups have said nearly 28 GW would be achievable by 2030. Energy analyst Kirsten Westphal from the government's hydrogen import initiative H2 Global earlier this month urged the EU to act as a true green electricity and hydrogen union to stand its ground in a competitive world that moves to climate neutrality and establish hydrogen corridors to neigbouring regions with rich renewable resources.