Industrial decarbonisation

EU methane rules must cover the entire gas supply chain, including imports

A group of environmental organisations and global energy companies, including Shell, have called for mandatory EU rules on methane encompassing the entire gas value chain, including imports from abroad, writes Maarten Wetselaar.

Carbon market largely unaffected by EU border levy, think tanks say

Over half of the heavily criticised free allowances, which allow certain EU companies to emit CO2 without paying, will remain unchanged under current plans for the tool designed to replace them, according to climate think-tanks.

EU industry shuns carbon border levy, calls for export rebates

European industries covered by the EU's future carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) have expressed doubts about the proposal, tabled last week. In addition to border measures, they are calling for an export rebate scheme to help green EU products compete on global markets.

EU’s green hydrogen plans hailed as ‘true game-changer’ by industry

The European Commission boosted regulatory support for green hydrogen in its proposed overhaul of climate legislation published last week, with the renewable hydrogen coalition calling it "a true game changer" for the nascent EU industry.

Carbon market overhaul shifts EU’s climate policy focus on industry, fairness

With its proposed reform of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), the European Commission is bringing carbon pricing policies to new areas such as shipping, road transport, and buildings. However, it is the fate of industry and ordinary people that is getting all the political attention.

Europe’s hydrogen split: blue vs green and north vs south

The only element keeping blue hydrogen projects alive are subsidies and as green hydrogen declines in cost more government subsidies will be needed. This might be good for Shell and Exxon but is unlikely to be popular with voters, writes Mike Parr.

EU climate targets are undermined by ETS subsidies. They must end

Some industry groups have called to maintain free CO2 allowances in addition to the upcoming carbon border levy. Their addiction to subsidies must be brought to an end, otherwise Europe risks triggering a trade war that would also undermine the EU's climate leadership, write Connie Hedegaard and Pascal Lamy.

Glass packaging industry goes electric, adding to growing demand for renewable power

Unlike the steel and cement industry, the glass sector has a clear path towards decarbonising its processes: electrification. Yet renewable electricity is scarcer than the industry would like, raising concerns about its ability to meet EU climate goals.

German hydrogen strategy under fire for sidestepping gas

The German hydrogen strategy, which inspired the EU's own hydrogen roadmap, has come under fire domestically for placing too much emphasis on “green” hydrogen and endangering the country's industrial decarbonisation process.

BASF starts building its own offshore wind farms

The world’s largest chemicals company, Germany's BASF, has forged partnerships with energy groups Vattenfall and RWE to build its own offshore wind farms in a bid to secure sufficient amounts of renewable energy for its chemical plants in Northern Europe. 

Decarbonising natural gas requires regulatory reform

The EU’s upcoming hydrogen and gas market decarbonisation package needs to address an array of key questions, including redirecting subsidies away from fossil fuels towards cleaner and renewable gases, argue scholars from the Stockholm Environment Institute.

The EU’s industrial strategy needs more action on climate

A change of attitude is needed if the EU is to hit its Green Deal goals, argue Henrike Hahn, Rosa D’Amato, Damien Carême, and Ignazio Corrao, who say the European Commission must get its priorities in order and accept its climate responsibilities, rather than delegate strategic choices to industries and companies themselves.

‘Hydrogen valley’ projects sprout up across Europe

Projects to create a full hydrogen value chain combining production, infrastructure and use all in one region are sprouting up across Europe, but more needs to be done to accelerate their development, according to supporters.

Portugal’s Galp moves to green hydrogen at refinery, eyes €1bn investment

Portugal's Galp Energia plans to install a 100-megawatt electrolyser to power its refinery in Sines with green hydrogen by 2025, a project which could be expanded to up to 1,000 MW and be worth €1 billion, Chief Executive Andy Brown said on Monday (14 June).

EU countries clash over scale of future hydrogen imports

The EU has historically been a major energy importer, with a majority of its oil and gas coming from Russia or the Middle East. Now, as Europe decarbonises its industry, some countries fear it could increasingly become dependent on imported hydrogen.

Is anyone able to control the carbon price?

Carbon prices on the EU emissions trading scheme are currently rising too fast, making the market extremely volatile, but it seems the European Commission has no effective stabilising tool to tackle this, writes Robert Jeszke and Sebastian Lizak.

LEAK: EU’s carbon border tariff to target steel, cement, power

The European Union plans to impose carbon emission costs on imports of goods, including steel, cement and electricity, according to leaked documents obtained by EURACTIV.

EU must sharpen its focus on innovation to address climate change

The upcoming ‘Fit for 55’ package of EU regulations will have a vital role to play to support the creation and deployment of clean energy innovation, writes Peter Sweatman.

Bill Gates and EU pledge $1 billion boost for green technology

The European Union and an energy investment programme founded by Bill Gates plan to raise up to $1 billion to roll out the low-carbon technologies Europe is betting on to meet its climate change goals, the European Commission said on Wednesday (2 June).

Germany to invest €8 bn in large-scale hydrogen projects

Germany said on Friday (28 May) it would invest €8 billion in 62 large-scale hydrogen projects, including electrolysers and pipeline infrastructure, as part of the country's bid to decarbonise its industry and become a world leader in the pioneering fuel technology.

EU, Japan seal ‘green alliance’ in bid for climate neutrality

The European Union and Japan have reaffirmed their “shared ambition of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050” at the conclusion of a bilateral summit which included the signature of an EU-Japan “Green Alliance”.