Commission launches consultation on draft methodology for low- carbon hydrogen

The European Commission is today launching a 4-week call for feedback on the draft delegated act which clarifies the methodology for evaluating the emission savings of low-carbon hydrogen and fuels. This secondary legislation is required under the revised EU hydrogen and gas market legislation that entered into force over the summer. The draft text complements the rules already in place for renewable hydrogen and renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) and is consistent with their methodology for a life cycle assessment of the total greenhouse gas emissions of these fuels. 

The feedback from this consultation will feed into the Commission’s deliberations on the final text. Upon finalisation, the text of the delegated act will be passed to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers for a 2-month period. If the Parliament and the Council do not object during this time, the delegated act is formally published in the Official Journal and enters into force. 

Background

Low-carbon fuels have an important role to play in the energy transition, as they cause fewer emissions than unabated fossil fuels and can support the uptake of renewable fuels. 

The Hydrogen and Gas Market Directive sets out a fully-fledged certification framework for low-carbon fuels, complementing the rules for renewable fuels set out in the Renewable Energy Directive. Article 9 of the directive mandates the Commission to adopt a methodology for evaluating the emission savings of low-carbon fuels. This methodology must be aligned with the approach established for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) and recycled carbon fuels (RCF). The directive also specifies detailed requirements, addressing factors such as actual carbon capture rates and methane leakage. 

The EU hydrogen and gas decarbonisation package, consisting of Directive (EU) 2024/1788 on common rules for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen and Regulation (EU) 2024/1789 on the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, was published in the EU Official Journal on 15 July and entered into force on 5 August 2024. The Commission has 12 months following the entry into force to clarify the definition of low carbon hydrogen through a Delegated Regulation, but is seeking to have the rules in place earlier. EU countries have until 5 August 2026 to transpose the new rules of the directive into national law.

Related links

• Have Your Say: Methodology to determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings of low-carbon fuels
• Hydrogen and decarbonised gas market package
• Renewable hydrogen
• Biofuels 
• Directive on common rules for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen (EU/2024/1788)
• Regulation on the internal markets for renewable gas (EU/2024/1789)