EU Hydrogen Quotas Raise Global Demand For Green Molecules
Comment of the Day

April 18 2023

Commentary by Eoin Treacy

EU Hydrogen Quotas Raise Global Demand For Green Molecules

This article from Bloomberg may be of interest. Here is a section: 

European Union (EU) lawmakers have agreed on the world’s first binding quotas for using renewable hydrogen (H2) and derived fuels. The March 30, 2023 rules will create significant demand for renewable H2, mandating existing industrial hydrogen users replace at least 42% of their demand with renewable H2. They also mandate at least 1% of transport energy to be H2-based.

Member states should ensure 42% of existing industrial H2 demand is renewable by 2030, rising to 60% by 2035. The industry quota targets companies such as fertilizer and methanol producers, but excludes refineries, which are covered under the transport mandate. Member states will be legally required to adopt this agreement as national law and the European Court of Justice will determine penalties for states that fail to comply.

In transport, fuel suppliers need to replace 5.5% of final energy demand with H2 or advanced biofuels, with a minimum target of 1% for H2-based fuels by 2030. BNEF expects the hydrogen share to be closer to the minimum goal as meeting the combined target using H2 alone would require extensive use of the molecule in road transport. Advanced biofuels had already reached a 2.1% share in transport by 2021.

Eoin Treacy's view

The EU remains committed to the zero carbon emissions quest and is pioneering the development of markets in alternative energy. High carbon emission prices are one half of the strategy and subsidies for wind, solar, biomass and hydrogen are the other half.
Significant resources are being poured into developing supplies of green hydrogen, most notably Fortescue Metals in Australia. The share continues to firm from the region of the 200-day MA.
Hazar Group just announced a deal with Chuba Electric to expand in Japan. The share popped higher last week and is holding the move above the 200-day MA.
Iwatani Group has broken out of a yearlong base formation.
Germany’s 2G Energy is firming from the region of the 200-day MA.

These are the better performer withing the hydrogen sector. The vast majority of shares are still trending downwards, not least because funding costs have risen so much over the last couple of years.
Platinum is a major beneficiary of the roll out of fuel cell technology. The price continues to extend the rebound through $1000 as it firms within what has been a very volatile range over the last three years. 

Back to top

You need to be logged in to comment.

New members registration