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BRUSSELS – In a bid to align the industrial sector with environmental goals, the European Commission presented today, Thursday 16 March, a legal act (Net-Zero Industry Act in English) with which it intends to limit the production of clean technologies in the EU to promote Union Europe (the so-called clean tech). Among the measures is a rule opening borders to public purchases of goods or technology from a single vendor (the eye goes to China).
“We need a regulatory environment that allows us to accelerate the clean energy transition,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. “The law we are introducing today will create the best conditions for those industries that are critical to achieving our environmental goals.” The aim is to give Europe its own industrial policy, an area that has so far remained in national hands.
Clean tech target of 40% of EU needs by 2030
The EU is aiming for climate neutrality by 2050. With this in mind, Brussels wants the European clean tech industry to represent 40% of community needs by 2030. Article 19 of the Regulation stipulates that when organizing tenders, the Member State shall publicly assess whether to exclude a company that controls 65% of the European market in certain sectors. The text states that the criterion “transparent and non-discriminatory” is to be applied.
Greater resilience “should be based on closer cooperation with our main suppliers – commented Markus J. Beyrer, Managing Director of the Business Europe trade association. Protectionist elements should be avoided. The zero-emission industrial law must keep the markets open.” In Germany, the association of metalworking companies accused Gesamtmetall Brussels of wanting to push through “a planned economy”.
The eight technologies supported by the law
The law supports eight technologies. These are photovoltaic solar energy and thermal solar energy; of wind energy; of batteries; heat pumps and geothermal energy; of electrolysers and fuel cells; biogas and biomethane; carbon capture and storage; and network technologies. Sustainable alternative fuels have also been included, and nuclear when it comes to small modular reactors and advanced technologies with minimal waste in the fuel cycle.