European Commission Commits to Early Review of Renewable Hydrogen Production Criteria

The European Commission published its AccelerateEU plan on April 22, designed to reduce energy costs and price volatility across Europe while accelerating the role of hydrogen and its derivatives in the energy transition.

The plan explicitly recognizes hydrogen as a clean, domestic energy source to replace oil and gas imports. Significantly, it commits to a "targeted review of the production criteria" defined by the RED III Delegated Acts in Q2 2026, responding to the sector's slower-than-expected ramp-up compared to initial projections.

Hydrogen Europe, the industry association, welcomes the early review timeline, which precedes the original 2028 review date. The organization notes that extending grandfathering periods for additionality and hourly correlation requirements to 2035 could substantially reduce clean hydrogen production costs. According to Hydrogen Europe, countries with high hydrogen demand but limited production capacity—such as Germany—could save up to €3 per kilogram of hydrogen produced.

The plan also emphasizes hydrogen's potential in producing e-fuels as alternatives to conventional jet fuel and other liquid fuels, addressing supply chain resilience concerns. Hydrogen Europe further calls for the upcoming Electrification Action Plan to include measures supporting rapid power grid development, priority grid access for electrolysers, and strategic design to maximize electrolyser flexibility benefits.

Originally reported by Hydrogen Europe. Read the full article →