Concerns over PFAS have led to an EU effort to phase out the chemicals in a range of sectors the bloc is counting on for the green transition — including hydrogen. But industry representatives say Brussels is cutting its nose off to spite its face by potentially slowing down the clean energy transition. Powerful policymakers have echoed those same concerns — including former Italian prime minister and European Central Bank president Mario Draghi in his blockbuster report last month.
Green-on-green pushback
Under the work-in-progress EU proposal to phase out the chemicals, the hydrogen sector has been given 12 years to find safer alternatives. Although there are “very few” non-PFAS alternatives to chemicals like Nafion on the market, the proposed exemption is a “reasonable time frame” to find and test new substances, argued Jonatan Kleimark of chemicals policy NGO ChemSec, especially since the EU proposal is still several years away from becoming law.
Some alternatives could even be more efficient, said Carolin Klose, a researcher at the Hahn-Schickard institute who is working on developing a non-PFAS alternative. But it could take a long time to scale up production.
As for the town of Villers-Saint-Paul, Chemours’ project is still set to go ahead, but under conditions agreed with the commune. It carries out daily chemical safety monitoring and shares the results with the regional authorities.
“Significant investments have been made in emission reduction technologies that are among the most effective in addressing discharges,” said Chemours. “We have committed to reducing air and water process emissions of fluorinated organic chemicals by 99% or greater by 2030.”
And while deputy mayor Ouizille acknowledges the manufacturer’s cooperation, he will continue to bang the drum for PFAS-free industries.
“I would say that as much as possible, [industries] have to work on PFAS-free solutions,” he said. “The health of local populations is at stake.”
