Carbon Neutral meaning

Overview Hydrogen is the universe’s most plentiful chemical element and, in some uses and certain applications, yields only water at the point of use. Although the fuel itself is colourless, it is often labelled by ‘colours’ according to the production route, depending on how it is produced. Black, brown and grey hydrogen arise from coal or natural gas, with grey presently the most widespread form produced and currently the most commonly produced type. Blue hydrogen likewise originates from natural gas, but its manufacture is paired with carbon capture and storage to deliver a more carbon neutral variant. Green hydrogen, by contrast, relies on renewable electricity (for example, from solar or wind) to split water through electrolysis. Because electricity is the key input, green hydrogen sits within the so‑called ‘power‑to‑x’ world of technologies and applications which are attracting significant investment. Together, green and blue hydrogen are generally referred to as ‘low carbon hydrogen’. A closely related field showing promise is also green (and blue) ammonia as well...

Context Under the European Green Deal, the EU has outlined bold goals to cut its greenhouse gas emissions steadily each year up to and beyond 2030, with the ultimate objective of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of 30 June 2021 (the EU Climate Regulation) sets a legally binding and enforceable duty on the EU to deliver a 55% drop in carbon emissions from 1990 levels by 2030, and to attain full carbon neutrality by 2050. The European Commission estimates that producing and using energy is directly responsible for over 75% of the EU’s greenhouse gas output. Rapid, far-reaching decarbonisation of the energy system is therefore essential to meeting both the 2030 and 2050 emissions goals respectively. To this end, the EU is designing and applying a comprehensive legal and policy framework for a climate-neutral, ‘clean’ energy system, centred on renewable energy and renewable hydrogen, together with stronger, improved energy efficiency. Moving to a low-carbon energy system has featured prominently on the EU’s policy agenda for...

The European Green Deal serves as the European Commission’s framework for sustainable growth across Europe. It embodies the Commission’s answer to existential dangers of climate change and biodiversity decline. It sets out a plan for action within the EU and for international cooperation to avert the gravest effects of a warming planet, while enabling citizens to adjust to unavoidable climate change and helping businesses to shift towards sustainability. Introduction to the European Green Deal The European Green Deal Communication (the Green Deal) appeared on 11 December 2019. It outlined a series of overarching aims to steer EU legislation and policy in the years after publication. An initial European Green Deal roadmap (the Roadmap), listing the principal measures to be adopted in fulfilment of the Green Deal’s objectives, was issued at the same time. A central ambition of the Green Deal is to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, with an interim target to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 50% below 1990 levels by...

Context Under the European Green Deal, the EU has committed to progressively lowering greenhouse gas emissions up to and beyond 2030, aiming ultimately for net zero by 2050. Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of 30 June 2021 (the EU Climate Regulation) sets a legally binding requirement for the EU to cut carbon emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030 and to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2050. The European Commission estimates that energy production and consumption account for over 75% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. Rapid decarbonisation of the energy system is therefore vital to meet the 2030 and 2050 goals. To deliver this, the EU is designing and putting in place a legal and policy framework for a climate‑neutral, ‘clean’ energy system, centred on renewable energy and renewable hydrogen, together with improved energy efficiency. The shift to a low‑carbon energy system has long featured on the EU’s policy agenda. The European Green Deal targets build on—and heighten the ambition of—earlier EU strategies and action plans, including the 2030...