A special advisor to the German Chancellor, Jörg Kukies, has confirmed that Germany will not oppose plans to recognize nuclear energy’s contribution to the European Union's decarbonization
objectives. Kukies made this statement during a panel discussion at the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris on March 9th, where he emphasized that Germany would import French hydrogen made out of nuclear energy. He added that Germany would not create barriers or discriminatory rules against hydrogen made from nuclear power.
Hydrogen can be produced through the electrolysis of water, creating a gas that does not emit CO2 when burned in industrial processes. France's nuclear power plants are seen as a viable source of cheaply produced hydrogen. While France has been going full out on nuclear energy after years of hesitancy and underfunding, Germany is instead pushing through an ambitious renewable energy agenda, aiming to receive 100% of the country's electricity through renewables by 2035.
Kukies noted that this ambitious renewable energy agenda will be supported by gas power plants for emergencies, which will burn hydrogen. He described this as a "very convincing dichotomy," as it encourages the EU to diversify its energy mix rather than depend on a single source. The German government's plan of divesting from nuclear energy domestically while importing nuclear-induced hydrogen from France is seen as a strategic move to promote the EU's energy mix diversification.
However, France's Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, has expressed concerns over Germany's energy strategy. As Germany sets out to close its last nuclear plants in April 2023, Borne raised questions about Germany's energy strategy.
In February, the European Commission tabled long-awaited rules defining the circumstances under which hydrogen can be labeled as coming from "renewable" energy sources. France had long battled to have nuclear-produced hydrogen deemed "green" under new European rules and thus qualify for public funding as the EU divests from Russian energy sources. France has also been a leader in nuclear development and has recently pushed for the recognition of nuclear as a low-carbon energy source in the EU.
EURACTIV reported that France would spearhead a new "EU nuclear alliance" with ten other member states to "cooperate more closely" across the entire nuclear supply chain and promote relevant "strategic projects" – an alliance that Germany is not a member of.