The European Parliament has rejected two motions seeking to block the European Commission's delegated act on low-carbon hydrogen, clearing the way for the text to enter into force unless the European Council objects by 8 November.
The parliament vote followed months of intense political debate over the act, which was put forward in July aiming to provide legal clarity for hydrogen producers and investors.
The act's critics said the rules were overly restrictive and imposed heavy administrative burdens, making low-carbon hydrogen production difficult in the EU. Two motions to reject the act were filed in September by members of the far-right Patriots for Europe (PfE) and centre-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). Both called for greater flexibility on upstream methane emissions accounting for carbon capture and storage(CCS)-based hydrogen production, immediate recognition of nuclear power purchase agreements (PPAs), and investor-protection measures such as grandfathering clauses.
The groups also urged the commission to draft a new delegated act by mid-2026 to incorporate these changes.
The motions were first rejected by parliament's industry, research and energy (ITRE) committee on 16 October. This signalled support for the commission's proposal ahead of the plenary vote and parliament confirmed this stance on 23 October, with a large majority voting against the motions.
Industry group Hydrogen Europe said the vote was accompanied by "written assurance" from energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen. He confirmed grandfathering provisions to protect existing investments, pledged to uphold technological neutrality, and announced plans for a revised methodology by the end of 2026 to better integrate low-carbon electricity, including nuclear and renewable PPAs, into hydrogen production, according to Hydrogen Europe.
The group said the outcome is "a positive turning point" and an "important guarantee as a foundation for long-term stability and predictability". It strikes a balance between industrial competitiveness and climate integrity, the association said.
If the European Council, which represents the member states, raises no objections by 8 November, the delegated act will enter into force, bringing long-awaited regulatory clarity for production of low-carbon hydrogen in Europe and for imported supply.
