EU Parliament votes to override Commission definition of renewable hydrogen
Members of the European Parliament (MEP) have voted in favour of an amendment to the Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II), overriding key components of the European Commission's definition of renewable hydrogen.
PHOTO: European Parliament votes to amend the Renewable Energy Directive. Getty Images.
MEPs upheld the amendment by a slim majority on Wednesday this week.
According to the Commission’s draft text, hydrogen would only be considered renewable if it is produced using renewable assets such as electrolysers that run on power from a newly-built renewable facility.
In the amended EU Parliament’s text, meanwhile, renewable hydrogen can be produced with an electrolyser powered by renewable electricity, biogas and biochemical conversion of biomass.
Markus Pieper, the rapporteur of the amendments, has called the Commission’s draft a “gold rim” proposal.
“Today we have facilitated production in Europe and for imports. Existing and subsidized plants may also produce green H2, temporal equalization and indirect contracts possible,” he said in a tweet after the vote.
Industry body Hydrogen Europe has welcomed the decision, saying, “MEPs have listened to the sector’s concerns that overly strict regulations would hinder the development of this crucial market.”
The Parliament has also made a commitment to an overall renewable energy contribution of 45% to the total energy mix by 2030.
Parliament will now work to revise the bloc's renewable directive and a legal definition for renewable hydrogen.
By Shilpa Sharma
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