21 January 2026
Green hydrogen RFNBO status at risk after ground transportation
A recent study from the University of Bordeaux finds that green hydrogen transported by truck over distances greater than 500 km may no longer meet the EU’s Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) criteria because the high carbon intensity of long road hauls pushes its life-cycle emissions above allowable thresholds, threatening its classification as a renewable fuel under EU rules intended to ensure substantial GHG savings across the whole supply chain. Green hydrogen’s low energy density means many heavy truck trips are needed to move significant volumes, which greatly increases fuel use and emissions during transport - a key factor in the RFNBO certification calculation defined in the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). This could have major implications for hydrogen projects in remote areas that depend on long-distance trucking and may force a shift toward lower-emission alternatives like pipelines, rail, or waterway transport to preserve green hydrogen’s RFNBO status and financial viability.