Habeck pushes for EU rule relaxation on green hydrogen production

In Germany, Handelsblatt reports Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck is advocating for a relaxation of the EU’s stringent climate protection rules concerning green hydrogen production. During a visit to Evonik’s chemical plant in Essen on Monday, Habeck argued that the current EU framework, which requires hydrogen to be produced exclusively from additional renewable energy sources, is too complex and could hinder the energy transition.

Habeck, a member of the Green Party, emphasized the urgency of ramping up hydrogen production, particularly green hydrogen, to support decarbonization. He proposed postponing the EU’s bureaucratic regulations for several years to avoid delays. “Hydrogen is needed now,” he stated, stressing that the administrative hurdles should not slow down progress.

The EU rules, designed to prevent renewable energy from being diverted from other uses, mandate that green hydrogen must be generated using newly built wind or solar power plants and be produced simultaneously with the renewable energy. These requirements are intended to ensure there is no double subsidy for both green electricity and green hydrogen.

Evonik CEO Christian Kullmann supported Habeck’s proposal, stating that scaling up hydrogen production is critical for the future. Habeck’s plan suggests delaying these regulations until 2035 to accelerate hydrogen deployment.