The EU-27 reached a compromise on Friday (16 June), which satisfies French interests in nuclear power, without reopening negotiations on the Renewable Energy Directive.
EU countries on Friday reached a final agreement on a 42.5% share of renewable energy in final energy consumption by 2030 through a revision of the Renewable Energy Directive.
France, supported by other pro-nuclear member states, had blocked the approval of a political agreement with the European Parliament in mid-May, asking for further guarantees on producing low-carbon hydrogen derived from nuclear power.
According to Paris, the risk was that EU-wide targets on renewable hydrogen production would conflict with the production of low-carbon hydrogen from nuclear sources – a red line for France.
According to the French Minister for Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, that risk has now been averted.
“This agreement recognises the role of nuclear power in achieving our decarbonisation goals”, she declared on Saturday, saying the final compromise deal “meets France’s expectations”.
The EU Commission’s concession
The European Commission had to water down its position for the 27 member states to confirm an agreement on the directive at a meeting of EU ambassadors (COREPER) on Friday.
During the meeting, the executive circulated a declaration stating: “The Commission acknowledges that other sources of fossil-free energy than renewable energy contribute to reaching climate neutrality by 2050 for Member States who decide to rely on such sources of energy.”
Without mentioning it, the Commission, therefore, acknowledges the role of nuclear power in achieving Europe’s decarbonisation objectives.
This is what France had been calling for, noted Agnès Pannier-Runacher in comments sent to the press. At the very least, nuclear power has been recognised as useful for decarbonising hydrogen production.
“This is historic”, says the minister’s office, adding that this recognition “will be binding for the European Commission in all future discussions” on the subject.
French MEP Christophe Grudler, a fervent supporter of nuclear power, welcomed the clarity brought by the European Commission, saying the compromise will not require Parliament to re-negotiate the agreement with the Council.
“My line prevailed,” he rejoiced, “because I didn’t want the text to be reopened,” he told EURACTIV.fr.
Ammonia production
Another sticking point for France related to guarantees offered to ammonia plants that commit to decarbonisation investments.
France had blocked the final signature of the text because of overly strict provisions on ammonia, which is very difficult to decarbonise by electrolysis and yet essential for producing fertilisers.
“It’s essential for these plants, which play a key role in our food sovereignty”, said Pannier-Runacher.
A recital added to the preamble of the directive clarifies that “certain existing integrated ammonia production facilities might be confronted with specific challenges posed by the replacement of hydrogen produced from steam methane reforming process”.
As a result, and on a case-by-case basis, existing plants can escape the directive’s renewable energy requirements if they can “demonstrate to have already started a transformation process” to phase down fossil-based hydrogen “no later than 2035”.
According to the ministry, the alliance of pro-nuclear countries “played a major role in the negotiations” to obtain these concessions.
Comprising 15 EU countries plus the UK, the nuclear alliance enough votes to form a blocking minority in the EU Council.
A situation that does not please everyone, as some member states have complained about the lack of transparency in the procedure, notes an EU diplomat for EURACTIV.
The last step for adopting the Renewable Energy Directive will come with a vote in the European Parliament.
According to EU sources, this statement will be added to the Council’s conclusions when the EU-27 ministers formally adopt the text once the European Parliament has approved it.
Source: Euractiv