#hydrogen - Archives - Energy Regulation Solutions

World Hydrogen Week

How will regulation, standardisation, and certification work together?

This question we discussed 09.10.2025 during the World Hydrogen Week in Copenhagen, organised by World Hydrogen Leaders.

Under the chair of Kim Talus and the moderation of Ulrike Hinz, together with Régis Prévost and Mohit Agrawal, we explored how standards and regulation interact in the production of hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives.

This topic is also part of my ongoing research at the University of Eastern Finland. Building on my previous studies, I shared several key points during the discussion:

📌 Different purposes: Regulations aim primarily at achieving greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, while standards focus on ensuring safety and technical compatibility.

📌 Different approaches to blending: Regulations allow flexibility through book & claim or mass balance systems, whereas standards typically apply only to physical blending.

📌 Different consequences for non-compliance: Under regulatory frameworks, penalties or GHG payments may apply, while under technical standards, non-compliance simply means the fuel cannot be used.

It was a truly insightful exchange on how these frameworks can and must align to support the development of a global hydrogen economy.

Posted By : admin 1 Oct, 2025

Updates to the Hydrogen Acceleration Act

Bundesregierung beschließt Entwurf für Wasserstoff-Beschleunigungsgesetz

On October 1, 2025, the Federal Cabinet adopted the draft Hydrogen Acceleration Act to speed up the development of hydrogen infrastructure and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

✅ Key highlights:

📌 Covers the entire hydrogen supply chain: production, import, storage, transport, and pipelines.

📌 Includes facilities for synthetic fuels to decarbonize shipping & aviation.

📌 Declares hydrogen infrastructure projects as overriding public interest, ensuring higher priority in approval decisions.

📌 Introduces clear deadlines, digitalized processes, and faster procurement.

📌 Simplifies regulations for natural hydrogen through amendments to the Federal Mining Act.

☑️ What next:

The Bundesrat and Bundestag will deal with the draft law.

➡️ Full draft law available here: Entwurf eines Gesetzes zur Beschleunigung der Verfügbarkeit von Wasserstoff und zur Änderung weiterer rechtlicher Rahmenbedingungen für den Wasserstoffhochlauf und weiterer energierechtlicher Vorschriften

➡️ Source: Aufbau der Wasserstoff-Infrastruktur wird schneller, digitaler und unbürokratischer – Bundesregierung beschließt Entwurf für Wasserstoff-Beschleunigungsgesetz

Posted By : admin 30 Sep, 2025

2nd Call for International Hydrogen Projects

📢 Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy launches 2nd Call for International Hydrogen Projects.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), together with the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), has published the second call for funding under the guidelines for international hydrogen projects. The BMWE thus supports the use of German hydrogen technologies abroad and aims to prepare and implement import routes to Germany.

✅ Key points:

📌 German companies can submit project outlines until 18 December 2025.

📌 Funding supports the development of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives outside Europe, with a focus on industrial-scale production plants and accompanying research (e.g., feasibility studies).

📌 Special emphasis is placed on German SMEs – technology suppliers and project developers – to strengthen expertise abroad and open new markets.

📌 Up to €30 million per project may be granted (subject to budget approval until 2026).

📅 On 13 October 2025, an information event will provide details on funding opportunities and allow participants to ask questions.

➡️ Register here: Förderaufruf zur novellierten Förderrichtlinie für internationale Wasserstoffprojekte

The initiative contributes to shaping a global renewable hydrogen market and securing future import routes to Germany, while showcasing German hydrogen technologies internationally.

➡️ Source: Bundeswirtschaftsministerium veröffentlicht zweiten Förderaufruf der Förderrichtlinie für internationale Wasserstoffprojekte

Posted By : admin 28 Sep, 2025

Briefing Delegated act on low-carbon hydrogen

I dove into the European Parliamentary Research Service Briefing on the “Delegated Act on Low-carbon Hydrogen”.

✅ Key takeaways:

📌 The delegated act, adopted by the Commission on 8 July 2025, is the final missing piece of the EU’s hydrogen regulatory framework. Its was adopted by the Commission on 8 July 2025, pending scrutiny by the Parliament and the Council until 10 November.

📌 The delegated act does not create financial incentives or targets but provides much-needed regulatory clarity on what qualifies as low-carbon hydrogen, supporting cross-border trade, investment, and a future EU hydrogen market.

📌 Electrolysis via the grid is only eligible in countries with very low grid emissions (currently: France, Sweden, Finland). Elsewhere, PPAs will play a key role.

📌 Nuclear power: The delegated act does not include a specific methodology for producing low-carbon hydrogen from nuclear power plants. The Commission plans to launch a public consultation on a draft methodology for this production method in 2026.

📌 Blue hydrogen faces stricter requirements. LNG-related emissions must be calculated using a methane-intensity methodology by 2027/28, raising uncertainty.

📌 Production costs: CCS-based hydrogen remains cheaper in the near term, while electrolytic hydrogen is still challenged by high EU power prices.

📌 Imports: The same low-carbon criteria apply to non-EU producers; a region-specific GHG methodology could follow by 2028.

⚠️ Parliament had already stressed in 2021 that low-carbon hydrogen must be seen as a bridging technology in the short and medium term, but also called for a clear distinction from renewable hydrogen.

The upcoming months will show whether Parliament and Council accept this final building block of EU hydrogen regulation or send the Commission back to the drawing board.

➡️ Source: European Parliamentary Research Service. Briefing: Delegated act on low-carbon hydrogen

Posted By : admin 27 Sep, 2025

H2international magazine

The H2international magazine now offers a free subscription to their English publication, which provides valuable insights and updates on hydrogen developments worldwide.

I hope this resource will be useful for those who want to stay up to date with the latest hydrogen news.

🔗 Free subscription link: https://www.h2-international.com/

Posted By : admin 26 Sep, 2025

Global Tales of Carbon Transition

Excited to share that I will be joining the Global Tales of Carbon Transition podcast on 9 October 2025!

Together with the hosts Jaqueline Pinto, Erik Rakhou, Joachim von Scheele and Oghosa Erhahon, we’ll dive into the latest developments in the hydrogen regulation.

A big thank you to the GTCT team and World Hydrogen Leaders for providing the stage for these important discussions.

🎙️ The episode will stream live on YouTube and later be available on Spotify and other platforms.

Looking forward to the conversation and to sharing insights!

Posted By : admin 25 Sep, 2025

3rd German-African Green Hydrogen Forum 2025

EU funding opportunities for Hydrogen import from Africa

On 23 September, I had the pleasure of speaking at the German-African Green Hydrogen Forum at Hochschule Anhalt, University of Applied Sciences. It was inspiring to exchange ideas on the main challenges of hydrogen imports with delegates from different countries and leading experts in the hydrogen sector.

A special thank you to Markus Holz, Ana Beatriz Barbosa Turiel do Nascimento, and the entire team at Hochschule Anhalt for their outstanding hospitality and for organizing such a professional and engaging event.

Posted By : admin 20 Sep, 2025

Hydrogen Import & the European Hydrogen Bank

This weekend I dove into the report “Assistance in the development of an auction design and necessary pre-conditions for a European import auction for renewable hydrogen under the European Hydrogen Bank.”

The EHB is based on domestic and international pillars. While the domestic pillar for hydrogen production in the EU has already reached its third auction, the international pillar for hydrogen import is still under development. This report provides the groundwork for shaping a European import auction for renewable hydrogen and its derivatives.

My Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Strategic recommendations:

The report outlines how to design RFNBO import auctions at EU level, based on hydrogen market analysis and lessons from existing/planned auction schemes in Europe and beyond.

2️⃣ Two case studies analyzed:

📌 Pipeline-based imports (pure hydrogen):

Can secure supply/offtake contracts between EU buyers and third-country producers in neighbouring regions.
Encourages pipeline investments.
Works via demand-side auction models to bridge funding gaps for RFNBO purchases, without assuming counterparty risks.

📌 Ship-based imports (derivatives: ammonia, methanol, eSAF):

Helps EU offtakers secure RFNBO volumes for hard-to-abate sectors and quota compliance.
Contributes to scaling up the global RFNBO market.

3️⃣ Contract terms

To scale import volumes effectively, the maturity transformation between purchase and sales agreements should be limited, with hydrogen sales agreements (HSAs) running for 2–5 years.

4️⃣ Auction design priorities

Import auctions should:

Bridge the cost gap between RFNBO production abroad and EU willingness to pay.
Accelerate market ramp-up.
Send a strong demand signal to international producers.
Strengthen cooperation among EU Member States.

💡 This report is an important step toward designing the EU’s approach for international hydrogen imports as a key enabler for the energy transition.

➡️ Source: European Commission: Directorate-General for Energy, Fraunhofer ISI and Guidehouse Germany GmbH, Assistance in the development of an auction design and necessary pre-conditions for a European import auction for renewable hydrogen under the European Hydrogen Bank – Final report, Publications Office of the European Union, 2025, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2833/9380870

Posted By : admin 16 Sep, 2025

Hydrogen from Peru to the EU

In this episode of Clean Energy Talks video blog with Roxana Serpa, Vice President of H2 Peru Association, we talk about hydrogen import from Peru to the EU:

I. Introduction of H2 Peru Association

The work of H2 Peru and its main activities in the hydrogen sector.

II. Renewable Energy Potential in Peru

What is the estimated renewable energy potential in Peru that could be used for green hydrogen production?

III. Regulatory framework

What recent developments in Peru’s regulatory framework could support the export of hydrogen to the EU?

IV. Transporting Hydrogen to Europe

What are the most viable options for transporting hydrogen from Peru to the EU?

Green ammonia
Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)
Renewable methanol (for maritime transport).

V. Hydrogen Production Outlook

What opportunities exist for launching hydrogen production projects in Peru in the near to mid-term?

VI. Hydrogen Hubs

What is meant by a hydrogen hub, and what plans or locations are being considered for such hubs in Peru?

VII. Certification

How is Peru preparing to meet the certification requirements for hydrogen exports to the EU?

➡️ Reach out here on LinkedIn or contact me for more details on the video topic.

Posted By : admin 13 Sep, 2025

Methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from low-carbon fuels

This report, prepared at the request of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research
and Energy (ITRE) reviews the draft Delegated Act (DA) on low-carbon fuels and addresses following questions:

🔹 Which production pathways are included?

The DA applies a technology-neutral, life-cycle approach.
Fuels must achieve at least a 70% reduction vs. the fossil comparator (94 gCO₂eq/MJ).
Both fossil pathways with CCS and electrolytic production routes for hydrogen production are eligible.
Nuclear-based electricity is also recognised.
Hydrogen leakage will be included once scientific consensus exists on its warming impact.

🔹 Does the DA enable the hydrogen economy?

The Delegated Act (DA) is a regulatory enabler, not a market driver.
The DA creates regulatory certainty via harmonised EU-wide accounting and certification, reducing investment risk and avoiding fragmented national rules.
The DA is not a demand-side driver, no targets or incentives are included.

🔹 Does the DA address fossil fuel emissions?

The DA incorporates methane CH₄ and CO₂ defaults but they are not strongly conservative.
LNG-specific values are missing, risking underestimation. Its effectiveness will hinge on strict enforcement and robust methane reporting.

🔹 Price & cost expectations

Blue H₂: 3.5–6.5 €/kg (costs depend on gas prices, CCS costs, and volatility).
Electrolytic H₂: 6–8 €/kg today; costs could fall <3 €/kg with cheaper electrolysers + low-carbon electricity.

➡️ Overall: The DA is an important regulatory enabler. It sets the rules for certification and trade but does not itself stimulate hydrogen demand.

➡️ Source: Report: Methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from low-carbon fuels

Energy Regulation Solutions

About us

Tag Archives: #hydrogen