Today, 23 signatories who joined forces with SolarPower Europe and the Renewable Hydrogen Coalition called on the European Commission to promote the highest sustainability standards in the EU Taxonomy for the production of clean hydrogen.
Renewable hydrogen produced from 100% renewable electricity sources can play a strategic role in decarbonizing the sectors of our economy that are hard-to-electrify and can foster Europe’s industrial leadership in future-proof technologies. The EU Taxonomy is a decisive step to streamline future public and private investments towards clean hydrogen production projects and make renewable hydrogen competitive against incumbent alternatives, helping deliver the European Green Deal goals and making Europe a global leader in renewable hydrogen solutions.
Signatories of the letter were extremely concerned about the latest proposals to weaken emission thresholds in the EU taxonomy and re-iterated their strongest support for the GHG emissions threshold for hydrogen production at 2.256 tCO2eq/tH2, and GHG emissions threshold for electricity production of 100 gCO2eq/kWh from gaseous and liquid fuels, initially proposed by the European Commission.
While the negotiations on the EU Taxonomy are reaching their last mile, signatories also highlighted the need to show leadership and ambition in this important file which will shape the future of the European Hydrogen Economy.
Simone Diodato Antonelli, Chairman of SolarPower Europe’s Renewable Hydrogen Workstream, said “The EU taxonomy is a cornerstone to promote Renewable Hydrogen in the near term: it will help ensure that clean hydrogen production abides by high sustainability standards and will foster a true level playing field between renewable-based and conventional hydrogen solutions. While the negotiations are reaching a final stage, preserving the initial ambitions of the European Commission’s proposals is absolutely vital to give investors the right signal.”
François Paquet, Impact Director of the Renewable Hydrogen Coalition, added “The Renewable Hydrogen Coalition calls on the European Commission to be crystal clear in its EU Taxonomy about the solutions that are truly sustainable. Prioritising renewable hydrogen as one of these solutions is indispensable to implementing the EU Hydrogen Strategy and becoming the first climate neutral continent by 2050. At a time when other countries develop their own taxonomies, now is the time for Europe to show global climate leadership.”
Aurélie Beauvais, Deputy CEO of SolarPower Europe, said: “Back in July 2020, the European Hydrogen Strategy clearly acknowledged renewable-based hydrogen as the only clean and future-proof solution. As a highly versatile, affordable, and sustainable energy source, the solar sector has immense growth potential in Europe and stands ready to deliver on this ambition. In this light, recent attempts to weaken the EU Taxonomy standards for clean hydrogen production are deeply concerning. SolarPower Europe and all signatories urge the European Commission and Member States to show the necessary leadership for a true renewable hydrogen success story.”
Read the full letter here.
Source: SolarPower Europe, March 31, 2021
www.solarpowereurope.org
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