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 the use of low-carbon hydrogen, “a cornerstone of this industrial decarbonisation strategy”.

These draft regulations apply to facilities producing between 500 kg and 50 tonnes per day “in order to prevent accidental risks and regulate water consumption”. For output exceeding 50 tonnes per day…