On Thursday, the European Union’s legislative branch took a major step forward by formally adopting a bill aimed at promoting the production and use of domestically-made net-zero technologies, including hydrogen equipment. This move brings the bill, known as the Net Zero Industrial Act (NZIA), closer to becoming European law. The European Parliament voted 361 to 121, with 45 abstentions, to approve the NZIA, leaving only the European Council’s approval standing between the bill and its enactment.
The NZIA aims to establish deployment targets for a variety of EU-manufactured net-zero equipment, such as electrolysers and fuel cells. The bill also includes provisions for granting regulatory benefits to net-zero equipment manufacturers to enhance manufacturing capacity, with a goal of ensuring that 40% of all electrolyser deployment in the EU is “Made In Europe.” Additionally, the NZIA sets a target for the EU to capture 15% of the global market for these technologies.
One key feature of the NZIA is the creation of “Net-Zero Acceleration Valleys,” which will allow projects looking to establish new manufacturing facilities to delegate certain environmental assessment responsibilities to host governments. Christian Ehler, the Member of the European Parliament leading the bill, emphasized
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