Many companies are expressing concern over regulations about green hydrogen in the European Union.
Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources with no carbon emissions. However, it must meet specific criteria to be recognized as renewable under the EU Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) standards.
These companies argue that the current regulations are unclear and potentially restrictive. They worry that the rules might stifle innovation and hinder the growth of the green hydrogen industry. As a result, a group of companies has written a letter to the EU requesting more clarity and flexibility regarding these regulations.
The letter states that the stringent criteria could exclude certain types of green hydrogen production methods that are otherwise environmentally friendly but may not fully comply with every RFNBO requirement. The firms also believe it is crucial to consider developing technologies that can contribute to the green hydrogen landscape. Still, these technologies do not yet fit into the narrow definitions of current regulations.
Additionally, the letter’s signatories argue that the EU might inadvertently slow down the transition to renewable energy in its attempt to regulate. They suggest that regulations should support a wider range of green hydrogen production methods to ensure the industry can thrive while achieving decarbonization goals.
