The EU has drafted new rules
EU low-carbon delegated acts could hamper project development
Stringent upstream methane thresholds and ambiguity over compliance with state aid will leave developers struggling, says Hydrogen Europe
The European Commission has published draft rules for the definition of low-carbon hydrogen—which includes blue hydrogen made from reforming of natural gas with CCS, as well as pink hydrogen made from electrolysis using nuclear power. The draft delegated acts are a key component of the revised EU hydrogen and gas market legislation, which came into force in July this year, and are designed to complement previously released guidance on what constitutes “renewable hydrogen”—made from electrolysis powered by renewables. “The delegated acts are important because there are certain pieces of legislation where low-carbon hydrogen is specifically mentioned as supporting decarbonisation targets, for
Also in this section
25 February 2026
Low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia development is advancing much more slowly and unevenly than once expected, with high costs and policy uncertainty thinning investment. Meanwhile, surging energy demand is reinforcing the role of natural gas and LNG as the backbone of the global energy system, panellists at LNG2026 said
18 February 2026
Norwegian energy company has dropped a major hydrogen project and paused its CCS expansion plans as demand fails to materialise
4 February 2026
Europe’s largest electrolyser manufacturers are losing patience with policymakers as sluggish growth in the green hydrogen sector undermines their decision to expand production capacity
2 February 2026
As a fertiliser feedstock, it is indispensable, but ammonia’s potential as a carbon-free energy carrier is also making it central to global decarbonisation strategies
