Hydrogen

France Comments on TEN-E Regulation 2nd Presidency Compromise (Chapters I–IV and Annexes I–VII)

France has tabled detailed March 2026 comments on the Council Presidency’s second compromise text for the recast TEN-E Regulation, challenging key provisions on project eligibility, centralised planning, permitting timelines and environmental derogations. If reflected in the final law, these positions would moderate sector-specific fast-track rules for electricity, hydrogen and CO2 networks and keep more discretion with Member States over infrastructure selection, permitting and environmental safeguards.

11 May 2026, 11:18data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

UL Solutions Launches Certification Services for Hydrogen Fueling Station Components

UL Solutions has introduced voluntary Type Examination Certification services for hydrogen fueling station valves and dispenser hoses aligned with ISO 19880-3 and ISO 19880-5 to validate safety and performance as hydrogen infrastructure expands. This enhances third-party assurance for critical hydrogen fueling components, helping manufacturers demonstrate compliance with key international standards and supporting safer, scalable deployment of hydrogen as an energy carrier.

9 May 2026, 14:17ul.comGlobal

EU Commission Awards Over €1 Billion to Hydrogen Projects in Third European Hydrogen Bank Auction

In May 2026, the European Commission awarded more than €1 billion to nine hydrogen production projects under the third auction of the European Hydrogen Bank. This marks a significant scale‑up of EU-backed hydrogen capacity and signals where early large-scale projects and related supply chains are likely to concentrate over the coming years.

9 May 2026, 12:04ec.europa.euEuropean Union

European Parliament ITRE Mission Report on EU–Japan Cooperation in Semiconductors, Batteries and Critical Raw Materials

The European Parliament’s ITRE Committee has published a mission report on its late‑March 2026 visit to Tokyo, highlighting EU–Japan cooperation on semiconductors, batteries, hydrogen and critical raw materials, and the importance of resilient, diversified supply chains over the coming years. For manufacturers and suppliers, this is a non‑binding but credible signal that forthcoming EU industrial, trade and energy policy will continue to prioritise secure access to strategic technologies and raw materials, deepening partnerships with Japan and potentially accelerating initiatives on battery, semiconductor and critical‑minerals value chains.

9 May 2026, 07:20europarl.europa.euEuropean UnionJapan

Germany: Bundestag Committee Schedules Hearings On Ecodesign And Gas‑Hydrogen Network Bills

In May 2026 the Bundestag’s Economic Affairs Committee will hold public hearings on a draft law modernising Germany’s implementation of EU ecodesign and energy labelling rules and on amendments to the Energy Industry Act to implement the EU Gas and Hydrogen Internal Market package. These hearings advance two major frameworks that will tighten sustainability requirements for energy-related products and reshape the gas and hydrogen network regime, signalling significant upcoming obligations for manufacturers, importers and energy network operators.

8 May 2026, 17:46bundestag.deGermanyEuropean Union

Iowa House Amendment H-8476 Narrows SF 2490 Compulsory Pooling to Natural Hydrogen Wells

An Iowa House amendment (H-8476) to SF 2490 would tighten the bill’s new compulsory pooling provision so that orders and related cost-recovery mechanisms apply only where producers have identified existing natural hydrogen pools within a spacing unit. This focuses the emerging Iowa oil and gas framework on hydrogen-specific development decisions while leaving the wider severance tax, confidentiality, surface-damage and pre-emption structure of SF 2490 unchanged for now.

6 May 2026, 20:00legis.iowa.govUnited States

Netherlands Amends Energy Regulation: Protection of Vital System Processes and Project Decisions for Large Electrolysers

In April 2026 the Dutch government adopted an amendment to the Energy Act’s implementing rules that tightens protection of electricity and gas system operators’ vital processes and establishes a ministerial project-decision regime for large-scale hydrogen electrolysers from mid-2026. This raises confidentiality, procurement and registration burdens for network operators and means developers of 100 MW-plus electrolysers outside key industrial clusters face a more centralised, higher-profile permitting pathway that should be factored into siting, timing, and investment decisions.

6 May 2026, 07:41zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

EU Proposal To Amend Council Implementing Decision Approving Bulgaria’s Recovery And Resilience Plan

The European Commission has proposed COM(2026)187 to replace the Annex to the 2022 Council Implementing Decision on Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, keeping the EU contribution at EUR 6.17 billion but tightening and clarifying key milestones for industrial decarbonisation, green hydrogen, electricity market reforms, storage and building renovation through to at least 2038. For companies and investors, the amended Annex signals near-term Bulgarian legislation on coal-phase-out caps, a green hydrogen framework, exclusion of most fossil-fuel and waste-incineration projects from RRP-backed finance, and significant new capacity targets for renewables and storage that will shape future market and funding conditions.

5 May 2026, 07:23eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionBulgaria

US Senate Engrosses Pipeline Safety Act of 2025 (S. 2975)

In April 2026 the US Senate passed and engrossed S. 2975, the Pipeline Integrity, Protection, and Enhancement for Leveraging Investments in the Nation's Energy to assure Safety Act of 2025, advancing a broad reauthorisation and modernisation package for federal pipeline safety programmes through 2030. This step does not change the bill’s substance relative to the earlier reported version but significantly increases its likelihood of becoming law, so operators should track House action and prepare for potential new requirements on hydrogen and CO2 pipelines, mapping, inspections, penalties, information-sharing and municipal gas system upgrades.

4 May 2026, 20:03govinfo.govUnited States

Netherlands Government Presents Multicriteria Study of Hydrogen Production Options for Industry

In April 2026 the Netherlands government published a major multicriteria study comparing ten hydrogen production routes for decarbonising industrial clusters and decentralised industry by 2035. The findings suggest that, alongside renewable electrolysis, methane-based routes with CCS, methane pyrolysis and waste gasification could play significant transitional roles, foreshadowing future support schemes, CCS infrastructure build-out and permitting considerations for hydrogen siting, feedstocks and safety.

3 May 2026, 14:57zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

European Commission Approves Amendment to German State Aid for Salzgitter SALCOS Hydrogen-Based Steel Decarbonisation Project

In February 2026 the European Commission approved an amendment increasing German direct state aid to over EUR 1.3 billion for Salzgitter’s SALCOS Stage I hydrogen-based steel decarbonisation project. The decision reinforces EU backing for green steel and large-scale renewable hydrogen demand in Germany, signalling continued public support for capital-intensive industrial decarbonisation investments.

3 May 2026, 14:30ec.europa.euGermanyEuropean Union

Japan MLIT Consults on Amendments to Road Vehicle Safety Standards for Hydrogen Tanks and Vehicle Safety Devices

Japan’s transport ministry is consulting on amendments to road vehicle safety standards and detailed notifications to align with updated UN vehicle regulations, including hydrogen tank systems and new camera, light-signalling, and side-guard devices, with comments due by late May 2026. Hydrogen vehicle and automotive manufacturers and suppliers will need to plan for revised approval conditions on hydrogen storage piping and safety devices ahead of targeted enforcement from June 2026 and a 2027 start date for certain pressure-vessel requirements.

3 May 2026, 14:24public-comment.e-gov.go.jpJapan

Finland Chemical Industry Federation Sets Out Position on EU Hydrogen and Gas Package and RFNBO Rules

In December 2025 Finland’s Chemical Industry Federation published a position paper urging flexible EU rules for hydrogen and gas markets, RFNBO criteria and energy taxation to keep low-carbon hydrogen investments viable ahead of an expected update of the Renewable Energy Directive in late 2026. The paper signals strong industry pressure in Finland and the wider EU to maintain investment-friendly, technology-neutral conditions for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen across RED, ReFuelEU, FuelEU Maritime, the gas and hydrogen markets package and energy tax reform, shaping how industrial decarbonisation and hydrogen valleys will develop over the next decade.

3 May 2026, 09:09kemianteollisuus.fiEuropean UnionFinland

Castilla y León Opens EIA Consultation for "Siete Iglesias" Electrolytic Hydrogen Plant and 45 MW PV Project (Valladolid)

Castilla y León has opened a 30-working-day consultation on permits and environmental impact assessment for a large 40 MW electrolytic hydrogen plant with a 45 MW co-located solar installation in Valladolid province. If approved, the Seveso-relevant project would add significant green hydrogen capacity, shaping future permitting expectations, safety controls, and industrial decarbonisation plans for similar hydrogen infrastructure.

3 May 2026, 07:17bocyl.jcyl.esSpain

UNECE AC.3 Authorises Development of Amendment to UN GTR No. 13 on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles

In April 2026, the UNECE Executive Committee (AC.3) authorised work to develop a new amendment to UN Global Technical Regulation No. 13 on hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles, signalling that this global vehicle safety standard is entering a new revision phase. This is an early regulatory-intent step with no immediate design or testing changes, but it indicates that hydrogen vehicle manufacturers and system suppliers should anticipate future updates to technical requirements and plan for potential design and validation impacts.

29 Apr 2026, 09:09docs.un.orgGlobal

Germany Bundestag Passes Second THG-Quota Act – 65% CO2 Reduction For Road Transport Fuels By 2040

In April 2026 Germany’s Bundestag approved a major overhaul of the greenhouse gas reduction quota for road transport fuels, obliging fuel suppliers to cut lifecycle CO2 emissions by 65% by 2040 while ramping up quotas for green hydrogen, advanced biofuels and electric charging. This sets a long-term, binding decarbonisation pathway for the fuel mix, forcing oil and fuel suppliers to redirect investment into renewable fuels and charging infrastructure and giving hydrogen, biofuel and EV providers much clearer demand and planning signals.

28 Apr 2026, 19:18bundesumweltministerium.deGermany

European Commission Plans Review of Renewable Hydrogen Rules; Lower Saxony Calls for Investment-Friendly Criteria

The European Commission plans to review strict EU rules that define when hydrogen counts as “renewable”, after evidence that current additionality and temporal-correlation criteria are slowing the market ramp-up and keeping production costs high in Europe. For hydrogen producers, off-takers and equipment suppliers, this is an early but important signal that the regulatory framework may shift toward more investment-friendly conditions, with material implications for project viability, location decisions and Europe’s energy resilience strategy.

28 Apr 2026, 11:56mw.niedersachsen.deEuropean UnionGermany

Lower Saxony Recognises "NetZero Nordwest Deutschland" As Net-Zero Valley Under EU Net-Zero Industry Act

In April 2026 the Lower Saxony government formally designated the north-western region "NetZero Nordwest Deutschland" as a Net-Zero Valley under the EU Net-Zero Industry Act, backed by a strategic environmental assessment and a one-year public display of documentation. This status clusters hydrogen, battery, wind, solar and grid manufacturing projects in a priority region, signalling faster permitting support and improved access to future EU funding while existing environmental safeguards remain in place, making the area a strategic hub for net-zero industrial investment.

25 Apr 2026, 10:49stk.niedersachsen.deGermany

Netherlands MP Questions Implementation of EU RFNBO Delegated Regulation 2023/1184

A Dutch MP has submitted parliamentary questions challenging the government’s support for easing EU RFNBO (green hydrogen fuel) rules under Delegated Regulation 2023/1184, focusing on additionality, temporal correlation, and the sunset clause. This does not change current law but signals political pressure around how far EU RFNBO criteria can be relaxed, with potential implications for project economics, investment certainty, and future revisions of the EU framework.

25 Apr 2026, 10:48zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlandsEuropean Union

European Commission Authorises Spanish State Aid Scheme for European Hydrogen Bank "Auctions-as-a-Service" (SA.121244)

The European Commission has authorised a €426.4 million Spanish state aid scheme (SA.121244) under the European Hydrogen Bank 'Auctions-as-a-Service' model, allowing grants to be awarded until February 2027. This approval unlocks substantial funding for hydrogen projects in Spain, signalling strong EU backing for industrial decarbonisation and influencing investment planning across energy-intensive sectors.

24 Apr 2026, 10:24eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionSpain