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Today, European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans and Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson have presented their proposal for a new EU ‘hydrogen and gas markets decarbonisation package’ as part of the Fit for 55 Package [1].
The package will update the rules for the EU internal market in natural gas and access to gas transmission networks, including new specific provisions for hydrogen and methane.
Today’s proposal has raised eyebrows among environmentalists as it encourages the uptake of so-called ‘low carbon gases’. The Commission’s package as presented today will boost the uptake of hydrogen as an energy carrier, including hydrogen produced from fossil or nuclear energy. This is a regrettable decision even if only meant as a transitional solution for the short- to medium term.
The Commission has missed a crucial opportunity for laying a stepping-stone towards a total phase-out of fossil fuels, necessary to be in line with EU’s climate goals.
According to the Commission’s text, gases which bring about greenhouse gas emission savings of at least 70% will be certified as ‘low carbon’. The bar is too low and will result in some unsustainable gas production routes being considered as ‘low carbon’.
The proposal risks ´low carbon gas´ becoming a blanket term for hydrogen produced from non-renewable sources, including fossil gases and nuclear. To avoid greenwashing, producers should be required to mention the energy source (for example, fossil-based or nuclear-based hydrogen).
The Commission’s proposal also allows for the blends of up to 5% hydrogen in cross-border gas transmission networks. This opens the door to continued fossil gas use and fossil gas dependency. The Commission has turned a deaf ear to demands put forward last week in a letter signed by 19 environmental non-profits. [2]
The proposal will now go through the scrutiny of the European Parliament and the European Council.
Rita Tedesco, Senior Programme Manager, Energy Systems, ECOS – Environmental Coalition on Standards:
This day will go down in history as the moment when the European Union gave in to the gas industry’s pressure, laying the foundations for a broad market uptake of hydrogen produced from fossil fuels and nuclear. EU member states and the European Parliament still have a chance to stop massive fossil gas greenwashing. It is a moment of truth for the clean energy transition.
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