Activities of Hildegard BENTELE related to 2020/2242(INI)
Opinions (1)
OPINION on a European strategy for hydrogen
Amendments (28)
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas the current legislative framework regulating natural gas has provided sustainability, security of supply and affordability of energy for European consumers for decades and thus should be expanded further to foster the development of a future pan-European hydrogen market;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas the development of hydrogen systems might be addressed differently by Member States, taking into account differences in the topology of their existing gas infrastructure, their capacity to develop different ways of hydrogen production technologies, different potential for innovation and a varying demand for hydrogen by different industries in each member state;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas building of a competitive hydrogen market that contributes in a time and cost-efficient manner to the Union’s climate-neutrality objective for 2050 requires well developed transmission infrastructure to distribute hydrogen efficiently from production sites to consumption areas across the Union, which may be achieved based on repurposing of existing gas grids and building dedicated hydrogen transmission infrastructure;
Amendment 60 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas the principle of additionality as framed in article 27 of the Renewable Energy Directive poses major risks to hydrogen investments and hydrogen uptake;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the need to maintain and further develop European technological leadership in clearenewable and low-carbon hydrogen13 through a competitive and sustainable hydrogen economy with an integrated hydrogen market; emphasises the necessity of a European hydrogen strategy that covers the whole hydrogen value chain, including the demand and supply sectors, and is coordinated with national efforts to bring down the costs of clearenewable and low-carbon hydrogen; welcomes, therefore, the hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe proposed by the Commission and the national strategies and investment plans for hydrogen of several member states; urges the Commission to streamline its approach on hydrogen with the industrial strategy and make it part of a coherent industrial policy; _________________ 13 According to the Commission, ʻclean hydrogenʼ refers to hydrogen produced through electrolysis of water with electricity from renewable sources. It may also be produced through reforming of biogas or biochemical conversion of biomass, if in compliance with sustainability requirements.
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Acknowledges the need of a regulatory framework in full respect of the proportionality, subsidiarity, and better regulation principles, emphasising the SME-Test;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Believes that a common legal classification of the different types of hydrogen is of utmost importance; welcomes the classification proposed bypoints out that rapid agreement on a comprehensive and science-based uniform EU-wide terminology for renewable and low carbon hydrogen is necessary to adapt national legal definitions and to provide a clear classification which brings with it legal certainty; stresses that this classification should be based on the carbon content of hydrogen and stepping away from the Ccommissiononly used colour-based approach; notes that avoiding two names for the same category, such as ʻrenewableʼ and ʻcleanʼ hydrogen, could further clarify that classification;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the urgent need for European standards, certification and labelling systems for clean hydrogen and a system of guarantees of origin for renewablehydrogen and electricity; believes that clean hydrogen production should be determinclassified according to an independent, science- based review, well-to-wheels assessment of its lifecycle emissions; calls on the Commission to provide a regulatory framework as early as possible in 2021technology- neutral emissions threshold standard for hydrogen and a regulatory framework that ensures guarantees of origin, tradability across member states and is consistent with the ETS as early as possible in 2021; stresses that one core criterion for the standards, certification and labelling systems should be the carbon content rather than the production method in order to respect technology neutrality;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Calls on the Commission to provide clarification on the role of carbon capture and utilisation or storage (CCU and CCS) by providing an enhanced framework for this technology and by addressing barriers;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Highlights that for a functioning and predictable internal hydrogen market, regulatory barriers need to be overcome and a coherent and comprehensive regulatory framework createdfor a hydrogen market design should be created and proposed by the Commission; highlights in this regard the need for a flexible hydrogen market in order to facilitate innovative first-movers to make full use of the benefits and drive down the costs of hydrogen production; believes that the gas market regulatory framework and the Clean Energy Package could serve as blueprints for that purpose;
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Notes that, in order to build up a sustainable hydrogen economy fast enough to reach our climate goals, low-carbon hydrogen can play a transitional role; calls on the Commission to assess for how long and how much of this hydrogen would be needed approximately for decarbonisation purposes until solely clean hydrogen can play this rolemust play a vital and complementary role in ramping up the market; highlights in this regard, the important role of carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS); calls on the Commission to set up a technology- neutral regulatory framework and reduce regulatory and economic hurdles to foster a quick market uptake of low-carbon hydrogen;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Emphasises the timely need for hydrogen production and transport, storage, transport and distribution infrastructure and the parallel development of demand and supply; welcomes, in this respect, the Commission’s intention to review Regulation No 347/2013 of 17 April 2013 on guidelines for trans- European energy infrastructure (the TEN-E Regulation)15 ; notes that, despite the concentration on industrial clusters in the first phase, the progressive reconversion of distribution grids and the planning of infrastructure for transmission over longer distances and its regulation should already be undertaken; notes the synergy benefits of integrating hydrogen production and infrastructure with other parts of flexible, multi-energy systems, such as waste heat recovery for district heating grids; _________________ 15 OJ L 115, 25.4.2013, p. 39.
Amendment 221 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Underlines that interoperability with the gas system and interconnection of hydrogen infrastructure within the EU must be assured in order to develop a functioning internal market and drive forward the integration of the energy system;
Amendment 255 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights that, in order to achieve a fast market uptake of crenewable and low- carbon hydrogen and to avoid carbon lock- ins, demand for clean hydrogen mustshould increase; acknowledges that the initial focus of hydrogen demand should be on sectors for which the use of hydrogen is close to being competitive or that currently cannot be decarbonised, by other mealess complex and cheaper means and technological solutions; believes that for these sectors roadmaps for demand development, investment and research needs should be established at European level; agrees with the Commission that demand-side policies such as quotas for the use of clean hydrogen in a limited number of specific sectors and financial tools such as carbon contracts for difference (ʻCCfDʼ) are necessary to promote decarbonisation through clean hydrogencould be considered for a transitional period to promote decarbonisation through renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, while avoiding the creation of artificial needs and undue market distortions at the expense of other energy sources; stresses that demand side policies should be consistent with other policy measures and subject to a thorough impact assessment to avoid any negative effects on energy consuming industries facing international competition; emphasises in this regard the importance of market-based solutions for creating a market and a level playing field for different technologies with a focus on cost-effective reduction of GHG as well as resilience and competitiveness of the EU economy;
Amendment 268 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Calls on the Commission to consider clear incentives for the application and use of hydrogen to different end-consumer sectors in order to trigger the demand for hydrogen; stresses that regulatory incentives, such as the possibility to account for hydrogen or synthetic fuels towards sector renewable targets or emission reduction thresholds in relevant EU legislation, including the REDII, should be provided;
Amendment 277 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13b. Calls on the Commission to consider quotas for synthetic fuels for aviation or ship propulsion;
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 c (new)
Paragraph 13 c (new)
13c. Underlines the need to design a market providing clean and low-carbon hydrogen as climate protection option to all businesses and in particular SMEs; calls on the Commission to estimate the amount of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen needed to help industrial SMEs to decarbonise their production processes and energy supply;
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses the need to ensure access to finance and innovation assets, such as incubators and joint research projects, for start-ups and SMEs to take root in the hydrogen industry; calls on the Commission to ensure equal market access as well as the facilitation of market entries for such undertakings promoting their participation, e.g. by proactively appointing them for roundtables and feedback in public consultation processes;
Amendment 299 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Emphasises that Europe is leading in the manufacturing of electrolysers and needs to maintain and advance this competitive edge; stresses that European RDI efforts in hydrogen should focus on a wide range of hydrogen technologies focusing on raising technology readiness levels;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines that significant amounts of investment are needed to make clearenewable and low-carbon hydrogen competitive, and that European programmes and financing instruments such as Horizon Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility, InvestEU and the ETS Innovation Fund have a key role in fostering a crenewable and low-carbon hydrogen economy; stresses the need to ensure access to finance and innovation assets for SMEs; deeply deplores the Council’s cuts affecting these instruments; calls on the Commission to develop a coordinated investment strategy for clean hydrogerenewable and low-carbon hydrogen as well as carbon capture utilisation and storage technologies; calls on the Commission to include low-carbon hydrogen in the EU Taxonomy Regulation;
Amendment 313 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Calls on the Commission to include manufacturing, transportation and storage of both renewable and low- carbon hydrogen (as well as blends with natural gas) into the upcoming Delegated Acts on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation stemming from the Regulation (EU) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 as environmentally sustainable economic activities;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Welcomes the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance and the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) as important means to enhance investment in clearenewable and low-carbon hydrogen; encourages the Alliance to come up with an investment agenda and a project pipeline in cooperation with the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking that can ensure the implementation of the hydrogen goals set by the Commission as soon as possible; welcomes the Commission’s plan to revise the State aid guidelines to include cfor environmental protection and energy to better enable renewable and low-carbon hydrogen; encourages Member States, the Commission and the economic operators to rapidly unlock the potential of IPCEIs to support transport and energy projects of relevan hydrogence for the European economy and with positive spillover effects;
Amendment 336 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the work of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU); asks the Commission to use it as a competence centre for clean hydrogenWelcomes the renewal of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) under Horizon Europe and calls for an increase of its budget compared to Horizon 2020; stresses the importance of the work of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU); asks the Commission to use it as a competence centre for renewable and low- carbon hydrogen; calls on the Commission to make use of the experiences gained in the Joint Undertakings, especially on Hydrogen fuel cells, and to incentivise further research into these technologies; calls on the future Clean Hydrogen for Europe Partnership to further explore and analyse the potential for hydrogen and fuel cells in buildings and data centres;
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Suggests to the European Commission to include the deployment of hydrogen in the general objectives of PRIMA in line with the priorities of Horizon Europe in order to strengthen research and innovation capacities and to develop knowledge and common innovative solutions across the PRIMA region;
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses that international cooperation in terms of low-carbon hydrogen with the neighbourhood of the EU, that is established on the basis of mutually respected rules and principles based on the EU internal gas market legislation, i.e. with the UK, EEA, Energy Community and the US, should be further developed in order to strengthen the internal market and energy security;
Amendment 364 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Highlights the need to ensure the principles of the internal market in the hydrogen sector and create a level playing field for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 d (new)
Paragraph 18 d (new)
18d. Considers, in this regard, the fact that new partnerships, especially those with Northern African countries, are a win-win business opportunity, since they support the development of the renewable and hydrogen energy industries on both sides;
Amendment 380 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Underlines the need for an integrated energy system in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050; believes that the integration of the electricity, gas, heating and cooling and hydrogen grid is beneficial for a well- functioning hydrogen and energy market; welcomes the inclusion of hydrogen in the Commission’s Strategy for Energy System Integration; believes that clearenewable and low-carbon hydrogen can play a key role in terms of energy storage to balance intermittent renewable energy supply and demand; calls on the Commission to address the barriers hindering a wider adoption of hydrogen energy storage, given its high potential in particular in the mobility and building sectors;