The European Commission’s just-launched public consultation procedure for new conditions that would recognize certain gas and nuclear activities as green activities, included in a 60-page Taxonomy Complementary Delegated Act distributed to member states at the turn of the year, has prompted uncertainty over the sustainability of new natural gas-fired power stations.

The Taxonomy will determine whether these facilities will be eligible for financial support, and to what extent, through European financing institutions and, possibly, the private sector.

Domestic energy producers are already preparing to forward questions to the energy ministry for clarification on a number of issues.

The Taxonomy stipulates that natural gas-fired generation can be regarded as an energy transition activity as long as new power stations approved before 2030, as replacements for facilities using conventional fossil fuels, emit less than 270 grams of CO2 per KWh.

The European Commission’s plan for completion of the Taxonomy’s public consultation procedure by the end of January, ahead of its implementation by this coming July, is not expected to remain on schedule.

The Taxonomy is intended to serve as a guide for private and public-sector investments required to achieve climate neutrality over the next 30 years.