RED III – Process of renewing the still new EU renewable energy directive has started

While the implementation of the recast of the EU renewable energy directive (REDII) is still ongoing across Member States, the process of developing a renewed RED III has already started.

Hasty? Maybe yes, but at the same time required for keeping track with the increasing ambition levels and ensuring a holistic approach to energy system transformation.

Currently, the EC is running a public consultation to collect views: https://bit.ly/2JEyZ6j

In my view crucially important for the upcoming REDIII:

– broaden its scope to ensure that the directive lives up to its name and equally applies to all renewable energy sources/vectors
– providing clear definitions for renewable gases, especially hydrogen and its derivatives
– facilitate a robust and integrated guarantees of origin system across energy vectors both for traders (full tradeability) and consumers (GHGE labeling; LCA-based) that is fully interoperable with other target systems (national EE-targets, ETS, sectoral targets, etc.)
– introduce demand-side measures (sectoral targets, quotas, CCfDs, etc.) to incentivize the uptake of hydrogen in hard-to-abate sectors
– review the concept of additionality to ensure a holistic transformation and avoid unjustified barriers for green hydrogen production in the EU