The European Commission announced today rules that could allow the production of hydrogen in nuclear energy systems.
Hydrogen is a central part of Europe's plans to decarbonise heavy industry, and the rules aim to encourage investors and industries to switch from hydrogen produced by extracting fossil fuels to hydrogen from renewable electricity.
The question of what the European Union will consider "renewable" has fueled a dispute in recent months between France and countries such as Germany, which says nuclear fuels should not be included.
After several months of delay, amid lobbying from the capitals, Brussels has now specified three types of hydrogen. It also requires producers to directly use newly installed renewable energy or sign a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) to support new local renewable energy projects, with the aim of stopping hydrogen producers from siphoning off existing renewable electricity capacity, which could risk increasing of fossil fuel production to meet total energy demand.
EU countries and legislators have two months to object or the aforementioned rules will come into force. The conflict between the countries over nuclear hydrogen has already delayed negotiations on new EU renewable energy targets, which are due to resume on Tuesday.
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