Lwhen we speake hydrogen, the molecule is often associated with a color, while it is colorless in nature. This color actually corresponds both to the method of production of the molecule, but also to the primary energy used by this method of production. These two elements determine the carbon footprint of the molecule produced and the color that is then attributed to hydrogen.
The table below summarizes the colors of hydrogen. To update it, it would be necessary to add a process in green hydrogen (alongside biomass thermolysis), that of “biological” technology, to include the new processes for producing very low carbon hydrogen from bacteria.
For the rest, we note that production by electrolysis can be green, pink or yellow… depending on the source of electricity production used to produce hydrogen. Yellow for the French electricity network; gray or black for the German (coal and gas power stations). Finally, blue hydrogen corresponds to a production of gray hydrogen, but with CO capture.2 which thereby reduces the carbon footprint.
However, it would be interesting to place the colour of hydrogen more broadly in a circular economy context by analysing a broader life cycle from production to use, including the use of by-products.
EU Directives: Successful deployment
At the same time, it is essential to guarantee at European level fair treatment of low-carbon hydrogen with renewable hydrogen, a pivotal provision for the recognition of the legitimacy of the French hydrogen strategy. As such, the European targets for the use of renewable hydrogen defined in the revised directive on renewable energies, RED 3, must be able to be opened to low-carbon hydrogen. In the same way, the production criteria must be applied uniformly to domestically produced hydrogen, and to imported hydrogen (renewable as low carbon).
An EU decision in December seems to be moving in this direction with a political agreement on the establishment of a mechanism to apply to imports of polluting products (such as steel or cement, for example) the rules of the European carbon market, which requires European manufacturers to buy carbon dioxide (CO) emission quotas.2), in other words “rights to pollute”.
This agreement on a “European adjustment mechanism “carbon at the borders” will apply to iron and steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizers and electricity, but also to hydrogen. The order on the definitions of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, the decree on guarantees of origin and traceability of hydrogen, as well as the decree implementing the inclusion of low-carbon hydrogen in the TIRUERT (after January 1, 2023), are eagerly awaited by the sector.
Clarifications and adaptations to the ICPE framework applicable to hydrogen installations are also expected. This involves firstly the establishment of a threshold of 6 MW below which electrolysis production projects (ICPE 3420) would not be subject to an environmental assessment, and the creation of a registration regime (simplified authorisation) beyond one tonne stored for ICPE 4715 (regulations relating to hydrogen storage). More generally, the applicable thresholds and related procedures must be adapted to new uses of hydrogen, following the recommendations of the “Regulatory Pack” currently being developed.
Low carbon electricity
What France Hydrogène is asking is that in the directives and laws concerning hydrogen (RED 3, but also the gas and hydrogen directive) account be taken of the low-carbon production induced by nuclear electricity and therefore the real carbon footprint of French electricity production for so-called renewable electricity (wind, solar) which, despite their deployment, will not be sufficient to provide the energy necessary for the hydrogen production objectives.
“The RED 3 directive concerns the deployment of renewable energies. We would like this directive to take into account electrolytic hydrogen as a whole and not just so-called “green” hydrogen and its derivatives, in particular fuels and synthetic ammonia. This is currently being discussed between Parliament and the Council,” Simon Pujau, in charge of institutional relations at France Hydrogène, told us. “We are working to have low-carbon electricity recognized so that we can run the electrolysers 24/7, 365 days a year, or more than 8,000 hours per year. We are asking, along with 7 other countries, to have a free choice of technological process for producing hydrogen, using green electricity, but also that of the network, which in France is very decarbonized thanks to nuclear power. The current Czech presidency is in favour and we expect decisions in this direction in early 2023. For the optional eligibility of low-carbon hydrogen, we expect to obtain it through the hydrogen and gas directive (which must define the threshold). This opening is necessary to achieve the objectives set by the EU.
As Anne-Sophie Corbeau, a researcher at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia, pointed out at the Horion Hydrogen conference: “In the US, their goal is to produce hydrogen, without worrying about how it is produced. If we want to develop the value chain, we must open up to all types of production, otherwise we will not be competitive in the EU. To achieve the European targets of 10 million tonnes, we will need 500 TWh, which is impossible without nuclear electricity.” “Electrolysis is the bottleneck for hydrogen,” said Gauthier Martin, a lawyer at the Court and Partner at Clifford Chance. “If we prevent the use of nuclear electricity, we will not be able to deploy the sector. The US and China will take care of it!”
CO capture2 and cement works
It should be noted that in the United States, the deployment does not distinguish the mode of production: all technologies will be encouraged and supported taking into account CO emissions.2. A much simpler and more pragmatic approach than the complex European regulations. An approach also more open to new technologies and other innovations.
Another key point is the production of industrial hydrogen associated with the capture and even better the use of CO2 for example, for the purpose of producing biofuel. The regulations must absolutely take this aspect into account because very fine projects such as that of Vicat depend on it. However, the production of synthetic fuel with the use of hydrogen and CO capture2 could be a strong link in the mobility of tomorrow. For Cécile Boyer, Administrative Director of the climate department at Vicat, “The cement production process itself releases a lot of CO2Hydrogen is an opportunity for us to reduce this CO2 to make synthetic kerosene and methanol. But we are currently stuck with regulations that do not recognize CO capture.2 industrial, even if the hydrogen produced is green. This could make cement plants more virtuous. We have enormous needs for synthetic fuels.” Vicat therefore hopes that the EU will unblock this regulation in this direction.
