Definition of renewable hydrogen

On February 13, 2023, the European Commission (EC) adopted two Delegated Acts required under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), proposing detailed rules to define what constitutes renewable hydrogen in the EU. These ensure that all renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) are produced from renewable electricity.

The two Delegated Acts are necessary for the fuels to be counted towards member states’ (MS) renewable energy targets. They aim to provide regulatory certainty for investors, as the EU aims to reach 10 million tonnes of domestic renewable hydrogen production, and 10 million tonnes of imported renewable hydrogen, according to the REPowerEU Plan.

On June 20, 2023, the EC published the two Acts outlining detailed rules on the EU definition of