The Swedish EU Presidency plans to resolve the impasse on the renewable energy directive, with a new add- on to the textbook aimed at easing French enterprises over nuclear power.
The EU’s renewable energy directive has remained wedged since Paris raised enterprises last month that the law risks undermining the product of low- carbon hydrogen deduced from nuclear energy.
The Swedish plan, attained by news point Contexte, would exempt some forms of low- carbon hydrogen used to produce ammonia from the law’s objects on renewable hydrogen product for assiduity.
It comes in the form of a new paragraph added to the law’s preamble, known as a “ recital ” in EU slang. The recital alters the composition in the law dealing with targets for renewable energies ofnon-biological origin, similar as green hydrogen, in assiduity.
Under the offer, low- carbon hydrogen used in the product of ammonia won’t count towards the target to reduce the use of reactionary- grounded hydrogen in assiduity, making the objective easier to achieve for countries like France.
“ For specialized and process- related reasons, some specific intertwined ammonia product installations may need major artificial rebuild for consuming increased shares of hydrogen produced from electrolysis, ” the recital says.
“ For the purpose of the computation of the denominator in the donation of renewable energies ofnon-biological origin used for final energy andnon-energy purposes in assiduity, hydrogen produced in a limited number of similarpre-existing artificial installations could be disregarded, when properly justified and on a case by case base, ” it continues.
This, still, is limited to formerly- functional installations that are in the process of phasing out reactionary- grounded hydrogen, the paragraph adds.
Impasse
Agreement on the EU’s renewable energy directive has been held hostage for over a month by France, which sought further “ guarantees ” on low- carbon hydrogen produced from nuclear power.
Still, it’s unclear whether the new textbook will break the impasse, with some countries concerned about the impact of the recital and the process by which it has been introduced.
The offer has drawn concern from some EU countries who say it changes the compass and meaning of the target for renewable hydrogen product, and pitfalls weakening it. There are also questions as to whether such an impunity can be done with a recital without amending the directive itself.
Others are upset about a lack of clarity when it comes to defining the “ limited number ” of installations that will be eligible for the impunity.
The way in which the Swedish Presidency has gone about this has also ruffled feathers, with one EU diplomat saying other countries weren’t consulted.
The move by France on the renewable energy directive follows a analogous leaguer by Germany over new EU rules on CO2 emigrations from buses , which allowed Berlin to prize last- nanosecond concessions.
“ 25 member countries feel there’s some kind of ‘ big boy perk ’ for two member countries that feel to get awarded for their last- nanosecond leaguers, ” said one diplomat.
Parliament ‘ opposed ’ to continuing the textbook
Continuing the textbook would also risk entering a new round of accommodations with the European Parliament – a script other countries want to avoid.
“ The European Parliament will ask for commodity in return for the recital. This will open accommodations and further produce issues for the blessing, ” the diplomat advised.
Markus Pieper, the lead moderator for the European Parliament, told EURACTIV that congress is “ unnaturally opposed to opening up the textbook ” and, thus, opposed to an fresh recital.
“ We prefer to give the Commission the possibility of an fresh written protestation on the perpetration of the hydrogen targets for assiduity, ” said Pieper.
Conversations will continue between EU ministers on Friday( 17 June) once countries have had longer to assay the textbook, but it’s unclear whether there’s enough support for either the law as it stands or the revised textbook with the recital.
