The European Commission has issued new clarifications on its Delegated Act for assessing low-carbon fuels, offering additional detail on low-carbon hydrogen provisions. While the move addresses some industry concerns, hydrogen sector leaders remain cautiously optimistic about the technology’s commercial prospects.
Dr. Timm Kehler, CEO of Die Gas- und Wasserstoffwirtschaft (Germany’s gas and hydrogen industry association), acknowledged the Commission’s willingness to adjust provisions critical for blue hydrogen development. The revisions modify previous drafts that had raised questions about the EU’s commitment to enhancing industrial competitiveness.
The primary dispute centered on emissions calculations for natural gas used in low-carbon hydrogen production. Although the Commission has retreated from previously restrictive values and reduced standard emissions benchmarks, Kehler noted the framework still requires complex verification procedures that lack full definition.
“We welcome the fact that the Commission is now showing a willingness to discuss adjustments to the provision that is crucial for blue hydrogen. The previous drafts cast serious doubt on whether the Commission was truly committed to strengthening competitiveness. The main point of contention was the determination of the emissions value for natural gas used to produce low-carbon hydrogen. While the Commission has now backed away from its previously prohibitive value and slightly reduced the standard emissions values, it is still insisting on very complex and not fully defined procedures. In doing so, the Commission is throwing the hydrogen industry a lifeline—but whether this will really be enough to ensure survival and fill the core hydrogen network remains highly questionable in light of the still far-reaching requirements and the lack of practical feasibility in verification.”
The industry continues to monitor whether the regulatory framework will support the large-scale hydrogen deployment needed for Europe’s clean energy transition.
