EU riles nuclear industry with delay to 'low-carbon' hydrogen rules

The European Commission is drafting EU standards for what types of hydrogen will be designated as a "low-carbon" fuel - a certification aimed at building up a market for the nascent green energy source.

A draft of those rules, seen by Reuters, said the Commission will by July 2028 assess a classification for hydrogen produced using nuclear energy - meaning that a hydrogen producer has signed a power purchase agreement with a nuclear plant.

Brussels will start consulting on the nuclear rules by June 2026, the draft added.

Emmanuel Brutin, Director General of industry group Nuclear Europe, said this timeline would hamper the development of nuclear-based hydrogen compared with other types of the fuel.

"This unjustified three-year delay gives an unfair competitive advantage to hydrogen produced through renewables," he said in a statement.

The EU passed rules in 2023 confirming how hydrogen produced from renewable energy can count towards Europe's green goals.

EU countries are at odds over nuclear power's role in Europe's energy transition, and political clashes over the issue have stalled negotiations on numerous EU policies in recent years.

Pro-nuclear countries including France, Poland and Sweden say Brussels should do more to recognise nuclear power. Others, including Germany and Denmark, have opposed mixing nuclear into some green policies, which they said could distract from the huge expansion of wind and solar needed to meet climate goals.

Nuclear energy produces no CO2 emissions, but it is not a renewable source of energy like wind or solar. Proponents cite nuclear reactors' ability to produce base-load power regardless of weather conditions like sunshine or wind, while opponents raise issues including the disposal of radioactive waste.

Most hydrogen consumed by European industries today is produced using fossil fuels. The EU aims to gradually replace this with hydrogen produced using emissions-free energy.

Experts from EU countries will discuss the EU's draft proposal on Thursday.

A European Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the draft. "We are committed to finding a balanced solution which works in all member states and clarifies the rules for the various hydrogen pathways," the spokesperson said.