On March 30, 2023, the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED3) was adopted by European negotiators. France Hydrogène reacted to its implications.
QA few days after the stabilisation of the rules for the production of renewable hydrogen by rejecting the objection filed by MEP Markus Pieper, a new crucial step for the development of hydrogen in Europe has just been taken. The adopted directive sets an ambitious target for the use of renewable electrolytic hydrogen in industry: 42% in 2030, 60% in 2035. Furthermore, the target volume of renewable hydrogen can be reduced by 20% if non-fossil hydrogen represents more than 77% of hydrogen consumption by the industry of this Member State, and more than 80% in 2035. This means that States wishing to produce hydrogen from nuclear electricity will be able to have a tailored target for renewable hydrogen, provided that they go further in decarbonising their industry than States limiting themselves to achieving the renewable hydrogen target.
This is a first major step towards recognizing the complementarity between renewable and nuclear energy for the development of hydrogen and, more generally, the decarbonization of our economy. By integrating into this development, the French sector will be able to ensure the operation of electrolysers with a very high load factor (>7000 h/year) thanks to the decarbonized French electricity mix, and a reduced need for infrastructure (the high load factor ensures continuity of supply without recourse to significant storage capacities). And in terms of electricity supply, a balanced use of renewable energies and nuclear power.
Transport side
Concerning transport, the adopted directive establishes a common target for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) and advanced biofuels: 5.5% of total energy consumption for transport by 2030. A minimum sub-target of 1% use of RFNBOs is also set. If France Hydrogène regrets that this target for the use of renewable hydrogen is not very ambitious compared to the proposals of the Commission and Parliament, it nevertheless sends a strong signal to the sector, and should allow projects to be launched. Furthermore, this relatively low renewable hydrogen target leaves room for manoeuvre, in France, to launch hydrogen production projects based in a balanced way on a supply of renewable and nuclear electricity. And therefore deliver competitive hydrogen, crucial to initiate the dynamic of converting fleets to hydrogen or using synthetic fuels in maritime transport.and airy.
It is on this latter sector that attention must now be turned, with the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation, which will set quotas for the use of synthetic fuels by air transport, until 2050. This trajectory, set for several decades, and the energy volumes that it represents require that this text treat hydrogen produced from renewable energies and nuclear electricity in a completely equitable manner.
“We have just passed a major milestone for the development of hydrogen in France and Europe! A few pieces are still missing, but we now have clear rules and objectives to launch the final investment decisions and projects,” said Philippe Boucly, President of France Hydrogène.
