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Publish date: March 27, 2023
News
On February 13th, the European Commission adopted the Delegated Acts (DAs) which outline the rules for producing Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBOs). These provide clear regulations that will encourage investments and promote the renewable hydrogen market in Europe. It also ensures that climate and consumer protections are in place. This comes at a critical time as other regions in the world are taking steps to create their own renewable hydrogen economies and are looking towards Europe to set the standard.
Although the final Delegated Act is not perfect, it strikes a good balance between allowing industry to grow while still protecting the environment and consumers from the cannibalisation of renewable electricity generation.
Together with other NGOs, Bellona has co-signed a letter to the ITRE Committee, urging them to support the Delegated Act and reject any opposition to it.
Read our open letter:
ITRE Members must not delay further the European renewable hydrogen Delegated Act
Throughout the past year, our mission at the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center has focused on two key, but intertwined issues—nuclear and radiation safety as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drags on, and the worldwide influence of Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, which itself is actively involved in the war and has participated in the occupation of a Ukrainian nuclear power plant.
At the beginning of the year, reports in the German and Russian press suggested an approximate 70% increase in uranium imports from Russia to Germany in 2024. But does this reflect broader European trends? It does not. Overall, imports of uranium and nuclear fuel from Russia to Western countries actually dropped sharply in 2024. Unlike the situation in Germany, this is already an established trend.
A Lingen, Germany plant could begin producing nuclear fuel in cooperation with a subsidiary of Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear corporation, which is directly involved in the war in Ukraine and occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.