The French government has launched a consultation on a mandate that proposes green hydrogen and its derivatives to meet 1.5% of transport fuel by 2030, Kallanish learns.

The incentive mechanism for the reduction of carbon intensity of fuels (IRICC), proposed by the ecological transition ministry, will replace the current TIRUERT system. The new mechanism would introduce specific quotas for the use of green hydrogen to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across transport sectors between 2026 and 2035. These start at 0.1% in 2026 and rise progressively to 1.5% by 2030 and 2% by 2035.

“To ensure compliance with European obligations in terms of carbon intensity reduction and minimum use of renewable energy, advanced biofuels and renewable hydrogen would also have a dedicated target, at 1.5% for hydrogen and its derivatives and 1.95% for advanced biofuels by 2030, without applying double counting,” says the consultation document.

France’s targets are slightly higher than the 1% green hydrogen target set by the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). The French government says its targets have been set to comply with the directive’s overall goal of a 14.5% reduction in the carbon intensity of the European transport sector by 2030.

Strict penalties have also been introduced for non-compliance. The mechanism proposes a penalty of €80 ($89) per gigajoule for those that fall short of their renewable hydrogen targets. In addition, companies could face penalties of €700/tonne of CO2 they fail to avoid.

The consultation is open until 10 June. 

The ministry’s proposal comes as Paris last month cut the country’s 2030 electrolysis capacity target from 6.5 gigawatts (GW) to 4.5 GW.