France's Hydrogen Production Support Program: Legal Framework and Competitive Bidding Details
Key Ideas
- France launches a competitive bidding procedure to award financial aid for renewable or low-carbon hydrogen production, supporting its decarbonization strategy.
- The procedure offers financial aid over 15 years with a price ceiling of 4 euros/kgH2, aiming to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen capacity.
- Project eligibility criteria include new installations only, technical capabilities demonstration, renewable electricity supply plan, financial guarantee, and adherence to strict timetables.
- Selection criteria heavily weigh on the price criterion, encouraging applicants to limit subsidy requests, while non-price criteria focus on energy, technological, and environmental impacts.
France has initiated a significant move in its decarbonization strategy by launching a competitive bidding procedure to provide financial support for the production of renewable or low-carbon hydrogen through water electrolysis. This initiative falls under the legal framework established by Ordinance no. 2021-167, focused on accelerating the deployment of green hydrogen production capacity. The support mechanism includes a 15-year financial aid program with a maximum price cap of 4 euros per kilogram of hydrogen.
The competitive bidding procedure outlines a phased approach, beginning with the selection of candidates based on technical and financial capabilities, followed by a competitive dialogue phase to refine projects, and finally designating winners for financial support. The eligibility criteria demand entirely new installations, demonstration of technical capabilities and project maturity, and adherence to a strict timetable for financial closure and industrial commissioning.
Candidates are required to showcase an electricity supply plan with a significant portion secured from renewable sources, along with commercial commitments for direct industrial use. They must also provide a financial guarantee and comply with cybersecurity criteria. The procedure emphasizes the resilience of projects and their contribution to the 'net zero' strategy in Europe.
Project selection will be based on a price criterion (weighted at least 70%) and non-price criteria (weighted up to 30%), with a focus on the level of subsidy requested and the projects' energy, technological, and environmental impact. While the price criterion holds significant weight, non-price criteria will also influence project selection based on strategic aspects such as innovation and environmental benefits.
Topics
Utilities
Renewable Energy
Green Technology
Decarbonization
Financial Support
Competitive Bidding
Industrial Projects
European Economic Area
Energy Code
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