France: a consultation opened on the regulatory framework for hydrogen production via water electrolysis

A public consultation on the regulatory framework for hydrogen production via water electrolysis (using only electricity from carbon-free or renewable energy sources) opened on 17 August 2026 by the Ministry for Ecological Transition, and will run until 6 September.

Three draft texts - a decree and two ministerial orders - are available for consultation ahead of their submission to the Higher Council for the Prevention of Technological Risks (CSPRT) on 15 September 2026. The aim is “to establish a unified regulatory framework proportionate to the challenges at hand, reconciling the development of low-carbon sectors with risk management”, the Ministry states.

Indeed, France has set itself the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2050 compared with 2015, primarily through…