The European Commission is legislating the ‘Fit for 55’ package
‘Fit for 55’ could torpedo EU hydrogen
Overly stringent rules on renewable additionality will severely hamper the development of the sector, says letter from over 60 hydrogen sector firms
More than 60 firms involved in the hydrogen sector have signed a letter to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen raising concerns that the development of the hydrogen economy in the EU could be seriously impeded without revisions on rules for renewable generation. Currently the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ package delegates responsibility for rules on the production of renewable hydrogen from electricity to the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). But the requirements of RED II for renewable fuels to prove additionality—coupled with rules on the time and distance between renewable energy generation and its consumption in an electrolyser—could hinder investment in capacity, the letter says.
Also in this section
14 January 2026
Continent’s governments must seize the green hydrogen opportunity by refining policies and ramping up the development of supply chains and infrastructure
6 January 2026
Shifts in government policy and rising power demand will shape the clean hydrogen sector as it attempts to gain momentum following a sluggish performance in 2025
23 December 2025
Government backing and inflow of private capital point to breakthrough year for rising star of the country’s clean energy sector
19 December 2025
The hydrogen industry faces an important choice: coordinated co-evolution or patched-together piecemeal development. The way forward is integrated co-evolution, and freight corridors are a good example
