The French government has launched a consultation on a proposed mandate requiring clean hydrogen to account for 1.5% of transport fuel by 2030, with penalties for non-compliance. The Ministry for Ecological Transition has introduced a mechanism to assign quotas to fuel suppliers, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector between 2026 and 2035.
Starting in 2026, green hydrogen must meet 0.1% of fuel demand under EU rules for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs), gradually rising to 2% by 2035. This measure, known as the Incentive for Reducing Carbon Intensity of Fuels (IRICC), will replace the current TIRUERT system, which offers tax benefits through renewable energy certificates for charging and hydrogen stations.
The proposal supports EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) goals, which call for 1% green hydrogen in transport by 2030. France also plans to impose fines of €80 per gigajoule and €700 per ton of CO₂ for non-compliance. The consultation runs until June 10.
This move follows similar national plans in Finland and Denmark. France, however, recently reduced its 2030 hydrogen production target from 6.5 GW to 4.5 GW, citing slower market and technological progress.
