Activities of Damien CARÊME related to 2020/2242(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on a European Strategy for Hydrogen
Amendments (42)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
Citation 4 a (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication of 14 October 2020 entitled ‘An EU strategy to reduce methane emissions’ (COM(2020)0663),
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 18 a (new)
Citation 18 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 28 November 2019 on the climate and environment emergency1, _________________ 1 Texts adopted, P9_(2019)0078.
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 a (new)
Citation 19 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 10 July 2020 on the revision of the guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure2, _________________ 2 Texts adopted, P9_(2020)0199.
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19 b (new)
Citation 19 b (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 2 July 2020 on a comprehensive European approach to energy storage3, _________________ 3a Texts adopted, P9_(2020)0198.
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU has endorsed the Paris Agreement, the Green Deal and the goal of achieving a cost-efficient and fair transition leading to climate neuat sets the long-term goal of limiting the rise in the Earth’s temperature to 1.5 °C in relation to pre- industriality by 2050 levels;
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the transition to a net-zero greenhouse gasclimate- neutral economy requires a cleanrapid and fair energy transition that ensures sustainability and health, participation, security of supply and affordability of energy; whereas this rapid transition to a high- efficiency energy system based on renewable energies must be completed within the next 10 years, otherwise there is a risk that the climate goal set by the EU and the scientific community may not be achieved;
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas hydrogen can be used for industrial, transport and heating applications, decarbonisingas a raw material and source of energy for high-temperature processes for industrial applications, the aviation sector and maritime transport, or in other words sectors in which direct electrification is not possible or competitive, as well as for energy storage to balance the energy system, thereby playing a significant role in energy system integration;
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas research shows that renewable energies can supply up to 100%4 of the European energy mix in 2050, of which hydrogen will account for a share of 13-14%5; _________________ 4 LUT University 2020 5A hydrogen strategy for a climate- neutral Europe (COM(2020)0301)
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the production of hydrogen is not a goal in and of itself, but should contribute to the overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; asserts that renewable hydrogen7a can act as a renewable energy storage vector and deliver solutions for certain industrial sectors, such as the steel industry, or certain transport sectors where electrification may not be a suitable option, such as the aviation sector; stresses the need to maintain and further develop European technological leadership in clean13renewable hydrogen through a competitive and sustainable hydrogen economy with an integrated hydrogen market; emphasisesnotes the added value of the domestic production of renewable hydrogen in terms of the development and marketing of innovative electrolysis technologies; emphasises, therefore, 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 clean hydrogen; welcomes, therefore, the hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe proposed by the Commission; _________________ 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 requirementsensure that renewable hydrogen is produced by new renewable energy installations or to absorb the surplus produced by existing installations, in accordance with the concept of additionality and a reduction in the costs of clean hydrogen; welcomes, therefore, the hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe and the future revision of the Renewable Energy Directive6a proposed by the Commission; _________________ 6aDirective (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources 7aThe amendment replacing ‘clean’ with ‘renewable’ applies throughout the entire text.
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle and energy conservation prevails and that direct electrification, where possible, ismeasures involving energy savings, direct use of renewable energies and direct electrification from renewable sources are the preferable options for decarbonisation as it is more costmaking significant progress towards climate neutrality in all the sectors affected, since they are more cost-, resource- and energy- efficient than the use of clean hydrogen;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Is convinced that only clean hydrogen is sustainably contributing to achieving climate neutrality in the long term; Underlines that according to the European Commission, hydrogen currently accounts for less than 2% of the EU’s energy mix8a and that 96% of this hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels9a, resulting in the release of 70-100 million tonnes of CO2 per year in the EU10a; Is convinced that only hydrogen produced from renewable sources is sustainably contributing to achieving climate neutrality; _________________ 8aFCH JU (2019) Hydrogen Roadmap Europe. This percentage includes the use of hydrogen as a raw material. 9aAt present, the 300 electrolysers in use in the EU produce less than 4% of total hydrogen output – Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), 2019, ‘Hydrogen Roadmap Europe’. 10a COM(2020)0301
Amendment 98 #
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 by the Commission; notes that avoiding two names for the same category, such as ʻrenewableʼ and ʻcleanʼ hydrogen, could further clarify that classification; could further clarify that classification; calls for the classification of the different types of hydrogen to relate not solely to CO2 emissions, but also to other environmental criteria, in particular those included in the taxonomy18a; proposes that renewable hydrogen should be defined within the existing legislative framework for non- biogenic renewable liquid and gaseous fuels used in the transport sector as established by the Renewable Energy Directive11a; _________________ 11A Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources 18aRegulation (EU) 2020/852 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
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Underlines the urgent need for European standards, certification and labelling systems for clean hydrogen and guarantees of origin for renewable electricity; believes that clean hydrogen should be determined according to an independent, science-based review of its lifecycle emissionall forms of hydrogen; believes that the different forms of hydrogen should be determined according to an independent, science-based review, which takes into account not only their lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions but also transparent and robust sustainability criteria based on the objectives of sustainable use and the protection of water and maritime resources; the transition to a circular economy, in particular the prevention of waste and the increased use of raw and secondary materials; pollution prevention and control; and finally, the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems; calls on the Commission to provide a regulatory framework as early as possible in 2021;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that the system of guarantees of origin for renewable electricity has not triggered adequate investments in additional capacities; proposes, therefore, that a methodology should be introduced for determining the conditions and criteria which are necessary to ensure that the production of renewable hydrogen delivers genuine additionality, in particular: (i) a direct connection between the new renewable energy installations and electrolysers, or (ii) power purchase agreements, or (iii) during periods when the electricity in the grid is entirely renewable or when the production of renewable electricity exceeds demand, would be lost or curtailed or could be converted into hydrogen for storage or system efficiency purposes;
Amendment 123 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is strongly convinced that public acceptance is key to the successful creation of a hydrogen economy; stresses, therefore, the importance of public and stakeholder involvement andof the importance of European safety and technical standards for hydrogen, and high- quality hydrogen solutions respecting those standards;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Citizen engagement12a _________________ 12aThis text is the heading of a new chapter that includes the following four paragraphs.
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 b (new)
Paragraph 6 b (new)
6b. Underlines that citizen engagement is crucial for the implementation of a fair, successful, participative and inclusive energy transition; underlines, therefore, the importance of ensuring that all stakeholders share the costs and benefits in an integrated system rather than an exemption-based system;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 c (new)
Paragraph 6 c (new)
6c. Welcomes the renewable energy communities involved in the production of hydrogen; recalls the obligation to provide them with an enabling framework in accordance with the Directive on common rules for the internal market for electricity13a and requests that they should benefit from the same advantages as other stakeholders; _________________ 13aDirective (EU) 2019/944 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on common rules for the internal market for electricity and amending Directive 2012/27/EU
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 d (new)
Paragraph 6 d (new)
6d. Observes that the potential for job creation in the renewable hydrogen sector is estimated at 10 300 jobs per billion euro invested14a, and that this figure will be boosted by jobs in the renewable electricity and consumption sectors; _________________ 14aEuropean Commission: Hydrogen generation in Europe: Overview of costs and key benefits
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 e (new)
Paragraph 6 e (new)
6e. Observes that more must be done to promote equal opportunities in the hydrogen sector, and calls for the launch of a European initiative targeted at women with a view to identifying and removing obstacles and building networks and models;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. WBelcomesieves that the Commission’s ambitious goals of increasing the capacity of renewable hydrogen electrolysers and hydrogen production and electrification will render necessary a substantial increase in the 2030 renewables goal15a; urges the Commission and the Member States to incentivise the value chain and market uptake of clean hydrogen in order to make it technologically mature and to carry out a comprehensive revision of our resource and energy pricing and taxation systems and structures with a view to internalising external costs such as emissions as a way of demonstrating that renewable hydrogen is indeed competitive with fossil-based and low-carbon hydrogen14; _________________ 14 carbon hydrogenʼ encompasses fossil- based hydrogen with carbon capture and electricity-based hydrogen, with significantly reduced full life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to existing hydrogen production.According to the Commission, ʻlow- 15aDirective (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Stresses that renewable hydrogen could be competitive before 203016a and that all investments should therefore be focused on this area; _________________ 16a‘A hydrogen strategy for a climate- neutral Europe’ (COM(2020)0301), DNV GL (2020): European Carbon Neutrality: ‘The Importance of Gas – A study for Eurogas’
Amendment 148 #
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, integrated and comprehensive regulatory framework created; believes that the gas market regulatory framework and the Clean Energy Package could serve as blueprints for that purposea regulatory framework focused on hydrogen is most appropriate in view of its specific uses in pure form, including storage; asserts that it is necessary to establish appropriate links with other regulatory frameworks, in particular the Renewable Energy Directive as regards certification and additionality, the Energy Efficiency Directive with a view to defining real needs and reducing the costs of decarbonisation, the Regulation on energy infrastructure and regulatory frameworks for the electricity and gas markets in connection with storage, as well as the framework for the transport sector, with a view to the genuine integration of sectors;
Amendment 166 #
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 acare must be taken to avoid transitional rsole; calls utions 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 roat divert financial resources and hold back systemic and technological progress; believes that solely clean hydrogen can play this role in order to achieve climate neutrality in sectors where no other options are available;
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Observes that the production of low-carbon hydrogen will require investments in CO2 capture, storage and transport infrastructures, producing a lock-in effect that is incompatible with the goal of climate neutrality;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines that a clean hydrogen economy requires significant additional amounts of affordable renewable energy and the corresponding infrastructure; calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up their efforts in this regart the roll-out of supplementardy and to abolish taxes and levies on renewable electricityadequate renewable capacities to supply the electrification process and the production of renewable hydrogen;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers that the deployment of additional renewable energy capacity in proportion to the need for renewable hydrogen is also necessary in order to avoid competition between the capacity required for electrification, electrolysers and other purposes;
Amendment 200 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Calls for the urgent removal of the free allowances under the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS) for the production of hydrogen from fossil fuels;
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Emphasises the timely need for hydrogenrenewable electricity production and transport infrastructure and the parallel development of demand and supply; welcomes, in this respect,; stresses that the infrastructure for hydrogen transport must be a closed-loop system between renewable hydrogen production sites and industrial sites and multimodal transport centres to guarantee the parallel development of demand and supply, while bearing in mind that transport may also be carried out using tankers; welcomes, in this respect, the fact that the energy efficiency first principle prevails in the strategy for energy system integration; notes 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, which must be equipped with a new system of governance for the planning of infrastructure; notes that, despite the concentration on industrial clusters in the first phase, the planning of infrastructure for transmission over longer distances and its regulation should already be undertaken; _________________ 15 OJ L 115, 25.4.2013, p. 39.must also take into consideration longer distances between a production site at sea and a consumption site and notes that its regulation should already be undertaken;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Calls for only ‘no regrets’ options for investment in new hydrogen infrastructure to be taken into consideration, avoiding stranded assets; stresses the need to take fully into consideration the significant losses during the production, transport, storage and processing of hydrogen17a; _________________ 17aIEA, The future of hydrogen, June 2019; IEA, Energy technology perspectives report, September 2020
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Encourages the Commission and the Member States to assess the possibility of repurposingpotentially repurposing some of the existing gas pipelines for the transport of pure hydrogen where those gas pipelines are connected to production and industrial sites and multimodal transport centres, in order to maximise cost efficiency and minimise land and resource use, investment costs and levelised costs of transmission;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Opposes the idea of blending hydrogen, a product that is complicated and expensive to produce, into the existing grid with fossil gas, which is comparatively cheaper, as that would be at odds not only with economic principles but also with the reality of the demand for pure hydrogen; notes that if blending were to take place the majority of the energy would be used up in the processes of blending, transport and separation of the hydrogen from the fossil gas rather than serving real energy needs;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Highlights that, in order to achieve a fast market uptake of clean hydrogen and to avoid carbon lock-ins, demand for clean hydrogen must increase; acknowledges that the initial focus of hydrogen demand should be on sectors for which the use of hydrogen is close to competitive or that currentlthe only way they cannot be decarbonised by other means; believes that for these sectors roadmaps for demand development, investment and research needs should be established at European level, based on independent scientific studies; agrees with the Commission that demand-side policies such as quotas for the use of clean hydrogen in specific sectors and carbon contracts for difference (ʻCCfDʼ) are necessary to promote decarbonisation through clean hydrogenre necessary to promote decarbonisation through clean hydrogen, accompanied by carbon contracts for difference for projects using hydrogen produced by renewable electricity (ʻCCfDʼ) where that is vital in order to preserve the competitiveness of end users, while ensuring that the compensation remains proportionate and avoiding the duplication of subsidies for both production and use;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses the importance of research, development and innovation in order to complete the integration of the energy system and also for renewable hydrogen along the whole value chain and of demonstration projects on an industrial scale in order to make clean hydrogen competitiveand throughout society; believes that involving citizens and SMEs and equipping users and workers with adequate knowledge about hydrogen are of the utmost importance;
Amendment 307 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Underlines that significant amounts of investment are needed to makedevelop renewable energy and clean hydrogen competitiveapacity, 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 clean hydrogen economy; deeply deplores the Council’s cuts affecting these instruments; calls on the Commission to develop a coordinated investment strategy for renewable energy and clean hydrogen;
Amendment 321 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. WelcomNotes the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance and the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) as important means to enhance investment in clean hydrogen; encouragescalls on the Alliance to come up with an investment afocus solely on the development of renewable hydrogenda and a project pipeline that can ensure the implementation of the hydrogen goals set by the Commissionto open itself up more to renewable energy operators, the widest possible range of scientists and civil society stakeholders in general, in order to ensure the implementation of the legislative goals on renewable hydrogen, which should be set as soon as possible; welcomes the Commission’s plan to revise the State aid guidelines to include a framework to promote investment in renewable energy and clean hydrogen;
Amendment 327 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Calls for the European Alliance to be equipped with a transparent decision- making procedure, led by the Commission and subject to checks, and for it to be supported by an independent body of scientific experts to define the transition pathways and provide guidance for hydrogen needs; calls for the Alliance to commit clearly to achieving the EU 2030 and 2050 climate targets and to ensure that it includes representatives of civil society (environmental NGOs, think tanks and social partners);
Amendment 339 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses the work of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU); calls for the launch of a joint undertaking for renewables and asks the Commission to use ithem as a competence centres for clean hydrogen;
Amendment 355 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Believes that the importing of clean hydrogen may become necessary to cater to European demandEuropean industry is at the forefront of technology in terms of electrolysers and other technologies linked to renewable energy and renewable hydrogen; calls on the Commissionstakeholders to establish mutually beneficial cooperation with neighbouring regionsand thus to ensure knowledge transfer and sustainable local development;
Amendment 373 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Is convinced that the EU should try to promote its standards on renewable hydrogen internationally and thus make renewable hydrogen a part of its international cooperation;
Amendment 379 #
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 integrationand stresses that the Paris Agreement sets the long-term objective of limiting the rise in the planet’s temperature to 1.5 °C above pre- industrial levels; believes that the integration of energy sectors and carriers as well as the coherent planning of the electricity, heat, gas and hydrogen grid is beneficial for a well-functioning hydrogen, taking into account alternative measures in energy efficiency and energy saving, as well as in line with climate targets, is beneficial for sustainability and the energy markettransition; welcomes the inclusion of hydrogen in the Commission’s Strategy for Energy System Integration; believes that clean hydrogen can play a key role in terms of energy storage to balance intermittent renewable energy supply and demand;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls for more use be made of waste energy from industry, data centres and other processes, and for more emphasis to be placed on innovative projects combining the production and recovery of electricity, hydrogen and heat;