fight for contains incoming hydrogen nuclear energy in the new directive renewable energy, as requested by France and eight other eastern EU countries, has only just begun. with seven member states Germany and Spain First, by writing to the European Commission this Thursday, they refused to be included in the arrangements Twenty-seven had negotiated because they think this would dampen ambition and slow the deployment of renewable energy sources and jeopardize the Paris Agreement’s climate goals. .
“Our position on low-carbon hydrogen (from nuclear energy) and non-biological renewable fuels has not changed. “We share the view that the production and use of low-carbon hydrogen and low-carbon fuels should not be promoted through the directive on the promotion of renewable energies,” says the letter, available to El Periódico from the Prensa Ibérica group. and if included in the 2030 targets, “reduce ambition and slow the deployment of renewable energyThis will jeopardize the achievement of climate targets, including the Paris Agreement.
The text, addressed to Vice President Frans Timmermans and Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, was signed by Teresa Ribera, Vice President and Minister for Ecological Transition, and colleagues from Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Portugal. These seven countries share the following idea: Such energy sources should not be counted in the 2030 global targets. nor a renewable energy target in any sector. “This includes our clear opposition to the link between low-carbon fuels and such targets under Article 8a of the Gas Directive,” the text says.
counterattack against France and the east
Faced with their theses, the seven countries decided to attack against the iron defense of nuclear energy maintained by the French-led group, this decade will be “decisive” In a letter, they say that “renewable electricity and hydrogen decarbonisation will be the main drivers to limit the rise in global temperature and move towards neutrality, as additional renewable energy capacity can be installed in the short term and at relatively competitive costs.” This is in response to another letter sent by France and eight other Eastern European countries – Poland, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary and the Czech Republic – in early February demanding the inclusion of low-carbon hydrogen such as nuclear (so-called) hydrogen. . pink hydrogen) are within the targets of the new renewable energy directive under discussion.
“In the next decade, new renewable energy capacity will not replace other forms of low-carbon energy – as decarbonisation in industry and transport in individual Member States is not yet sufficiently developed – but will replace renewable energy in these sectors. They refute the view that the framework of the law prevents Member States from defining their own energy mix.”Counting low-carbon energy among renewable targets would prefer to reduce our climate efforts. and slows down investment in much-needed additional renewable capacity,” they say.
The seven countries that signed the letter also remind that the renewable energy directive does not prevent or prohibit Member States from using other low-carbon fuels and hydrogen, but emphasize that there may be EU countries that simply choose to decarbonize their economies. renewable energy “This is the way we choose because we think it is the only safe and sustainable way. climate neutrality and energy security”, they warn the use of nuclear hydrogen in the gas-related regulatory framework, although it is ‘controversial’.