This week The European Commission adopted a new State aid framework supporting the Clean Industrial Deal (CISAF).
The new framework streamlines state aid across five key areas:
- expanding renewable energy and low-carbon fuel infrastructure;
- providing temporary electricity price relief for energy-intensive users;
- decarbonizing existing industrial facilities;
- boosting EU clean-tech manufacturing capacity;
- and de-risking investments in clean energy, decarbonization, energy infrastructure, and circular-economy projects.
By simplifying these rules, it enables faster, more predictable support for Europe’s green transition.
The new Clean Industrial State Aid Framework raised aid ceilings to 100% for renewable hydrogen production (RFNBOs) via competitive bidding and to 60% for industrial hydrogen use when at least 40% per cent of the mix is renewable.
“DG COMP has sent a strong signal that Europe is serious about clean-tech investment”, said Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe. “Higher aid ceilings, flexible funding schemes, and accelerated depreciation will unlock the next wave of hydrogen projects and keep manufacturing capacity in Europe”.
Lifting all remaining uncertainties around state aid is essential to ensure these new rules effectively bolster competitive, sustainable clean-tech manufacturing and energy-intensive industries.
