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US Senate looking at ways to save 45V: Cornyn

  • Market: Hydrogen
  • 12/06/25

The US Senate is considering ways to reinstate the 45V hydrogen production tax credit that the House voted to terminate by the end of this year, said a key Republican official.

"That's on the table," said Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), who serves on the Senate's tax writing committee, in response to a reporter asking him in Washington DC this week whether there's any effort to "reinstate the hydrogen tax credit." A spokeswoman for Cornyn confirmed the exchange in an email to Argus.

The lucrative credit was part of a raft of clean energy incentives originating from President Joe Biden's signature climate bill that House Republicans voted to repeal to offset President Donald Trump's more than $4 trillion tax cut. If the House version of the bill passes it would effectively end billions of dollars worth of projects to produce cleaner hydrogen either from electrolysis powered by renewables or natural gas with carbon capture and storage.

Green energy advocates and fossil fuel producers have combined efforts to lobby the Senate to extend the credit's lifetime. The American Petroleum Institute, the Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association and multiple Chambers of Commerce representing cities along the US Gulf coast, which stand to benefit from blue hydrogen projects, asked the Senate in a letter this month to preserve the credit until 2029.


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26/06/25

Australian gas firm sued over ‘greenwashing’ claim

Australian gas firm sued over ‘greenwashing’ claim

Adelaide, 26 June (Argus) — Australia's competition regulator is suing gas distributor Australian Gas Networks (AGN) in the federal court, alleging "greenwashing" occurred in an advertising campaign in 2022 and 2023. AGN misled customers when it ran "Love Gas" TV and digital advertisements claiming that gas in its network would be renewable within a generation without holding reasonable grounds that would be the case, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said. "It is not currently possible to distribute renewable gas at scale and at an economically viable price," ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said on 26 June. "We allege even though AGN knew the future of renewable gas was uncertain, it made an unqualified representation to consumers that it would distribute renewable gas to households within a generation." AGN, a major gas distribution firm owned by Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK, forms part of the firm's Australian Gas Infrastructure (AGIG) business. The distributor services more than 1.3mn customers via about 27,000km of distribution networks and 1,300km of gas pipelines. The firm strives to provide clear and accurate communications about the role and benefits of natural gas today and renewable gas into the future and that the company will defend the claims in court, a spokesman for AGIG said. AGIG, an early developer of small-scale green hydrogen blending in gas networks, plans to start operations of its 10MW Hydrogen Park Murray Valley project in late 2025. A 1.25MW project in South Australia's state capital Adelaide began operations in 2021 . Canberra promised to police claims about emissions more strictly, pledging millions of dollars in 2023 to fund regulatory oversight of fossil fuel producers and distributors . The Australian Securities and Investments Commission's first court action for alleged greenwashing was against Mercer Superannuation and concluded in August 2024. The federal court fined the pension fund A$11.3mn ($7.4mn) for misleading statements about seven "Sustainable Plus" investment options. The court found that the options included investments in 15 companies involved in fossil fuel sales, such as BHP, Glencore and Whitehaven Coal. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Germany cuts funds for hydrogen in new budget


25/06/25
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25/06/25

Germany cuts funds for hydrogen in new budget

Hamburg, 25 June (Argus) — Germany's new government has substantially reduced medium-term funds earmarked for development of a hydrogen economy and the decarbonisation of industry. In its first budget, the government has allocated €1.28bn ($1.46bn) in the 2026-32 period for measures aimed at realising the country's national hydrogen strategy, according to a document for the climate and transformation fund (KTF) seen by Argus . Its predecessor had set aside €3.75bn. Funds for use this year are unchanged at €490.6mn, with the bulk to go to initiatives designated as Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI). These include renewable hydrogen production projects and infrastructure initiatives. Germany's national hydrogen strategy, from 2023, targets 10GW of installed electrolyser capacity by 2030. But key measures outlined in the strategy, such as planned support for 'system-serving' electrolysers and offshore electrolysis, have not been launched and are years behind schedule . The budget document says these programmes are to be launched this year, but does not specify future funding allocations for them. Just over 1GW of electrolysis capacity in Germany has reached a final investment decision. Industry body Hydrogen Europe in 2024 estimated that Germany would not even reach half of the 10GW target by 2030, even in an optimistic scenario. On the demand side, the government trimmed this year's funds for hydrogen use in industry to €718mn from €1.17bn. The funds primarily cover steel and chemicals production plans selected under the IPCEI framework. But these funds appear to be shifted back to future years rather than being scrapped entirely, and some additional money is available for the remainder of this decade. The government has earmarked €1.34bn for 2026-30, up from €529.8mn previously. But the coalition partners have sharply cut future funds planned for industrial decarbonisation more broadly — to €1.84bn in 2026-46 from €24.6bn. This segment includes measures such as the carbon-contracts-for-difference (CCfDs) that are intended to subsidise the switch to cleaner fuels or feedstock, including hydrogen. The government of conservative CDU/CSU and social-democrat SPD took over from a coalition between SPD, liberal FDP and the Green party in May. German industry and water association BDEW said the draft budget sends "a completely wrong signal" on the hydrogen ramp-up, noting that medium-term funds have been reduced by one-third and industrial decarbonisation initiatives face even larger cuts. The ambitions for a transformation do not match the reality of framework conditions and the reduced funding for hydrogen projects will damage industrial competitiveness, BDEW said. The cuts are detrimental to planning and investment security for project developers, it said. The Green party criticised the government for moving natural gas-related measures — such as the gas storage levy — into the KTF, which was established in 2010 to support climate protection goals. By Stefan Krumpelmann Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Netherlands publishes RED III biofuels draft


24/06/25
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24/06/25

Netherlands publishes RED III biofuels draft

London, 24 June (Argus) — The Dutch government's updated draft legislation to transpose the EU's revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) notably proposes abolishing double-counting renewable energy contributions from Annex IX feedstocks. The draft introduces a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction mandate for land, inland shipping and maritime shipping, but excludes aviation — which was included in a previous draft . The RED III mandate will take effect in 2026. Obligated parties have to fulfil the mandate by surrendering a sufficient amount of so-called emission reduction units (EREs) in each sector. The mandate's flexible credit allowance allows EREs generated in the land sector to be used to partly meet emission reduction obligations in inland and maritime shipping ( see table ), but EREs from inland and maritime shipping cannot be used by land sector suppliers to fulfil their compliance requirements. Fuel suppliers with overall consumption of more than 500,000 l/yr will need to incorporate a 14.4pc share of renewable fuels in their annual deliveries in 2026. This increases linearly, to reach 27.1pc in 2030. The amount of crop-based biofuels in the land sector will be limited to 1.4pc of the overall energy content of total consumption until 2030, and will not be accepted towards targets in maritime and inland shipping and aviation. The amount of Annex IX Part B biofuels — such as used cooking oil (UCO) and animal fats categories 1 and 2 — that can be counted towards the mandate will be limited to 4.29pc in the land sector and 11.07pc in inland shipping. Obligated parties will be unable to claim EREs from Annex IX Part B fuels used in maritime shipping. The draft also introduces a minimum share of emission reductions that have to be achieved by Annex IX Part A and renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO), for all sectors. RED III mandates that 5.5pc of all fuels supplied must be advanced biofuels, including at least 1pc RFNBOs by 2030. The Netherlands' draft decouples these targets, to reduce investment uncertainty ( see table ). Refineries that use renewable hydrogen in their production process can claim refinery reduction units — or RAREs — which can be used by a supplier to meet an RFNBO sub-target in various sectors. Correction factor delay The ministry will delay its plans to apply a "correction factor" of 0.4 to its "refinery route" stimulus for hydrogen demand, in order to ensure the measure does not undermine direct use of hydrogen in transport. The correction factor means the value of emissions reductions credits generated through the use of renewable hydrogen for transport fuel production would be limited to a certain percentage of those generated through direct use of renewable hydrogen or derivatives in transport. The government leaves the option open to impose a correction factor from 2030. Although the EU Fuel Quality Directive increases the maximum share of bio-based components to 10pc in diesel, the Dutch government said fuel suppliers must continue to offer B7 — diesel with up to 7pc biodiesel — as a protection grade, because of the large number of cars incompatible with B10. Companies will be able to carry forward any excess EREs to the next compliance year. Companies with an annual obligation can carry forward up to 10pc of the total amount of EREs needed to fulfil their obligation in a year, with registering companies allowed to carry forward 4pc. Dutch renewable fuel tickets (HBEs) carried into 2026 will be converted into EREs on 1 April 2026, the government said. By Evelina Lungu and Anna Prokhorova Overview of future Dutch obligations pc CO2 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Land (Road) Sector-Specific Obligation 14.4 16.4 22.8 24.8 27.1 Flexible Credit Allowance 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Total Obligation 14.4 16.4 22.8 24.8 27.1 Annex 9A Sub-Obligation 3.1 4.5 5.9 7.3 8.8 RFNBO Sub-Obligation 0.05 0.06 0.36 0.77 1.07 Conventional Biofuel Limit 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 Annex 9B Limit 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 Maritime Sector-Specific Obligation 2.5 3.3 4.1 4.9 5.7 Flexible Credit Allowance 1.1 1.5 1.8 2.2 2.5 Total Obligation 3.6 4.8 5.9 7.1 8.2 Annex 9A Sub-Obligation - - - - - RFNBO Sub-Obligation 0.00 0.02 0.08 0.16 0.32 Conventional Biofuel Limit 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Annex 9B Limit 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Inland Waterways Sector-Specific Obligation 3.0 4.1 6.1 8.2 11.6 Flexible Credit Allowance 0.8 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.9 Total Obligation 3.8 5.1 7.6 10.2 14.5 Annex 9A Sub-Obligation - - - - - RFNBO Sub-Obligation 0.02 0.04 0.09 0.17 0.34 Conventional Biofuel Limit 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Annex 9B Limit 11.1 11.1 11.1 11.1 11.1 The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management *RFNBO: Renewable fuel of non-biological origin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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ArcelorMittal halts DRI-EAF projects in the EU


20/06/25
News
20/06/25

ArcelorMittal halts DRI-EAF projects in the EU

London, 20 June (Argus) — Luxembourg-based steelmaker ArcelorMittal said it will not proceed with previously announced direct-reduced iron (DRI) and electric arc furnace (EAF) decarbonisation projects at Bremen and Eisenhuttenstadt in Germany. The company cited unfavourable policy and slower than expected progress in the energy transition — particularly the lack of commercially viable renewable hydrogen. The company initially planned to supply DRI from Bremen to the EAF in Eisenhuttenstadt after their construction. ArcelorMittal first announced the plans in 2021, projecting that the two sites could produce up to 3.5mn t/yr of steel using renewable hydrogen by 2030. The company initially planned to use natural gas for DRI production in Bremen and gradually switch to renewable hydrogen. But in November last year, the company said it was unable to take final investment decisions on building the DRI-EAF assets in the EU because of challenging energy, policy and market environments that were not moving in a favourable direction. The projects were slated to receive €1.3bn ($1.5bn) in subsidies from the German federal government, contingent on construction beginning by June 2025. Even with that support, the business case remains too weak, ArcelorMittal Europe chief executive Geert van Poelvoorde said. The company has formally notified the government it will not be taking the subsidies. "This decision underlines the scale of the challenge. As it stands, the European steel industry is under unprecedented pressure to stay viable — without factoring in the additional costs required to decarbonise," Poelvoorde said. It remains unclear what the company's decision means for its related partnerships with German utility RWE and US-based Plug Power. ArcelorMittal and RWE announced plans in 2022 to identify locations for electrolysis plants to supply renewable hydrogen to the steelmaker's Bremen and Eisenhuttenstadt sites, starting with a 70MW pilot facility by 2026. In a separate agreement in 2023, Plug Power committed to supply two 5MW electrolysers to utility SWB for ArcelorMittal's green steel feasibility project at Bremen. The company has urged the EU to accelerate enforcement of the carbon border adjustment mechanism, strengthen trade protections and implement the EU Metals Action Plan to restore the competitiveness of low-emissions steel. In May, ArcelorMittal confirmed its intention to invest €1.2bn in a new EAF at its Dunkirk site in France. Market participants suggest the company was delaying its DRI investments in Ghent, Belgium, and Dunkirk, but the steelmaker has yet to comment. The French government in 2023 approved an €850mn grant to ArcelorMittal to decarbonise its Dunkirk asset. ArcelorMittal's move comes as other steelmakers in Germany also reassess their decarbonisation timelines. Thyssenkrupp, for instance, has warned that its planned DRI plant in Duisburg — expected to switch from natural gas to hydrogen — may not be economically viable under current conditions. By Elif Eyuboglu and Akansha Victor Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Germany plans €17,000/t e-SAF penalty


20/06/25
News
20/06/25

Germany plans €17,000/t e-SAF penalty

Hamburg, 20 June (Argus) — Germany is planning to impose penalties of €17,000 for each tonne that fuel suppliers fall short of their hydrogen-based synthetic aviation fuel (e-SAF) obligations, under a draft bill implementing the EU's revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). The draft, seen by Argus , allows for the penalty level to be adjusted in future. The EU's ReFuelEU Aviation legislation mandates e-SAF blending from 2030. Fuel suppliers must ensure that e-SAF makes up at least 1.2pc of their overall aviation fuel supply on average in 2030–31, with a minimum of 0.7pc each year. The share rises to 2pc in 2032, 5pc in 2035 and 35pc by 2050. Member states are required to set penalties at least twice the price difference between e-SAF produced from renewable hydrogen and conventional jet fuel. Reference prices published by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency earlier this year implied minimum penalties of €13,922/t. Germany's proposed €17,000/t penalty would significantly exceed that level. E-SAF can be produced using renewable or non-fossil low-carbon hydrogen, such as hydrogen from nuclear-powered electrolysis. The legislation also permits the direct use of hydrogen in aviation, although this is widely seen as a longer-term prospect. Germany had previously proposed its own national e-SAF quotas but scrapped those plans following the introduction of EU-wide mandates. Most planned e-SAF production facilities in Europe and globally remain in early development stages. Industry participants have repeatedly called for greater regulatory clarity — including on penalties — and additional support to unlock final investment decisions. By Stefan Krumpelmann Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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