nuclear-news

Leak: France wins recognition for nuclear in EU’s green hydrogen rules

By Nikolaus J. Kurmayer | EURACTIV.com. Feb 12, 2023

The European Commission has tabled long-awaited rules defining the circumstances under which hydrogen can be labelled as coming from “renewable” energy sources. Last minute, Paris also won recognition for low-carbon hydrogen produced from nuclear electricity.

……. the European Commission has been working on a set of rules to ensure green hydrogen uses only “additional” sources of renewable electricity.

After more than a year of delay due to intense lobbying from Paris and Berlin, the EU executive finally adopted those rules on Friday evening (10 February), according to documents obtained by EURACTIV.

……….. France scored a major victory.

For months, French politicians have lobbied Brussels to hammer the point that green hydrogen should also come from low-carbon nuclear electricity, not just renewables.

………………………… “this goes in the direction of pro-nuclear countries as well as those hostile to imports,” confirms Mikaa Mered, a lecturer on hydrogen markets, diplomacy and geopolitics at Sciences Po in Paris………………………………………….

The actual texts, seen by EURACTIV, have yet to be officially published in the EU’s register of delegated acts. However, last-minute changes are not expected.

> The main document, called a “delegated act” in EU jargon, is available below and can also be downloaded here. Two other documents are also available: a “delegated regulation” (here) and an annex (here).  https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/news/leak-france-wins-recognition-for-nuclear-in-eus-green-hydrogen-rules/

February 12, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, politics