Claims that blue H2 will increase emissions in Europe are based on a fundamental misunderstanding of EU legislation and intentions, writes Hydrogen Europe’s Daniel Fraile.

A recent report from DeSmog has highlighted understandable concerns regarding the production of low-carbon hydrogen using gas combined with carbon capture and storage technology, also known as blue hydrogen.

Naturally, if hydrogen products are to contribute to decarbonisation, they must be able to demonstrate significant emissions reduction compared to traditional fossil-based fuels. This is the main driver behind the whole debate about the creation of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs), or in the US, the discussion around the definition of clean hydrogen.

The aim is to distinguish any renewable hydrogen from renewable hydrogen that delivers significant emissions reductions. And the same is true for non-renewable low-carbon hydrogen production pathways.