The MEPs of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) adopted (60 votes in favour, 16 against and 3 abstentions), on Wednesday 27 January, the draft opinion of Hildegard Bentele (EPP, Germany) on the European Union’s strategy for hydrogen.
This opinion (see EUROPE 12603/17), modified by various amendments negotiated between the political groups, calls in particular on the European Commission to introduce clear Europe-wide terminology for the different forms of hydrogen and standards and criteria for the certification of hydrogen on the basis of life-cycle emissions.
While the Commission foresees a bridging role for low-carbon hydrogen (produced from natural gas with CO2 capture - see EUROPE 12523/1), MEPs stress the importance “of a clear commitment to the rapid transition to renewable hydrogen”.
In particular, they call on the Commission to draw up a roadmap for the deployment of electrolysers and to consider the development of carbon Contracts for Differences (CFDs), while calling for an increase in renewable electricity production.
Nevertheless, low-carbon hydrogen, “that significantly reduces life-cycle GHG emissions and avoids future lock-in effects”, will have “a bridging role”, the report also points out. A reference to which the S&D, Greens/EFA and The Left groups tried to oppose, without success.
In addition, the ENVI Committee calls for the phasing out of fossil hydrogen and for an end to subsidising this form of hydrogen, which today makes up almost all of the hydrogen produced. According to an International Energy Agency report published in 2019, renewable and low-carbon hydrogen accounts for less than 0.7% of global production.
The vote on the draft report of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) - the Parliament committee responsible for this dossier - is scheduled for the end of February (see EUROPE 12601/8). (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)