With its "Low Carbon Fuels Delegated Act", the European Commission has defined criteria for low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen. For the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI), the regulatory framework is too bureaucratic and strict. Matthias Belitz, Head of Sustainability, Energy and Climate Protection at the VCI, says: "Unfortunately, the regulations are again too strict and simply not practicable - similar to the green electricity criteria for green hydrogen. This will make the urgently needed investments in hydrogen production more difficult or, in the worst case, may not be made at all. This is particularly bad news for the chemical-pharmaceutical industry. Our companies are already the biggest users of hydrogen in Germany - and demand will multiply in the future."
Federal government should bring about changes
The VCI is appealing to the German government to lobby for improvements in Brussels. Belitz explains: "We need falling costs and more pragmatism in the development of a hydrogen economy. This is laid down in the German coalition agreement and should also be implemented at European level. Low-carbon hydrogen is a 'transitional hydrogen'. It is better for the climate than traditional fossil-based hydrogen - but not quite as clean as green hydrogen from wind or solar power. Nevertheless, it can help to reduce emissions quickly and effectively - especially in industry."
Examples of necessary improvements
There should be more flexible and practical criteria for calculating emissions from the electricity demand for low-carbon hydrogen, for example. The assessment of methane emissions generated during the extraction and transportation of natural gas should also not prevent the economic viability of gas-based hydrogen projects, according to Belitz. He also calls for a transparent and practicable certification system for low-carbon hydrogen that also recognizes imports.