EU approved £900 million green hydrogen27 Mar 2024 19:47
The European Commission approved a €900 million French scheme to support companies investing in biomass and renewable hydrogen for energy and fuel production, aligning with the Green Deal Industrial Plan. This aid, granted under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, aims to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The French measure supports the production of heat, fuels, and liquid fuels from biomass and renewable hydrogen for industrial processes and transport. It takes the form of direct grants and is open to new installations and scaled-up projects, requiring completion within 36 months. The Commission found the scheme compliant with the Framework, ensuring aid incentivizes renewable energy production, adheres to aid intensity limits, and is granted by December 31, 2025. Approved under EU State aid rules, the scheme contributes to implementing the REPowerEU Plan and the Green Deal Industrial Plan. This decision comes in the context of the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted to support sectors crucial for transitioning to a net-zero economy, with provisions amended following Russia's aggression against Ukraine.