RWE, Germany’s largest utility, has signed a major green hydrogen supply agreement with French oil giant TotalEnergies, marking a significant step in Europe’s decarbonization efforts. Under the deal, RWE will supply TotalEnergies’ Leuna refinery in eastern Germany with around 30,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually from 2030 to 2044. The hydrogen will be produced at RWE’s 300-megawatt electrolysis plant in Lingen, western Germany, which is set to begin operations in 2027.

This agreement represents the largest amount of carbon-neutral hydrogen ever contracted from a German electrolysis facility and signals confidence in the future of hydrogen despite ongoing skepticism about its economic viability. Green hydrogen, which is produced using renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, is a cleaner alternative to traditional hydrogen production methods that rely on natural gas.

China’s new guidelines for managing special clean energy funds mark a significant step in solidifying its transition towards a greener economy. Published by the finance ministry, these rules will govern the allocation of funds for renewable energy and the clean utilization of fossil fuels from 2025 to 2029, with the potential for an extension beyond this period. The move underscores Beijing’s commitment to sustaining its clean energy momentum, which played a critical role in China’s economic expansion in 2024.

For the first time, clean energy contributed over 10% of China’s GDP in 2024, with total sales and investments in the sector reaching 13.6 trillion yuan ($1.9 trillion). This growth was driven by investments in solar, electric vehicles (EVs), and batteries—industries now collectively referred to as the “new three.” These sectors have overtaken real estate in economic contribution, further highlighting China’s strategic pivot away from its traditional property-driven growth model.

The Trump administration is moving aggressively to dismantle Biden-era vehicle emissions regulations, rolling back key measures designed to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday that it is reconsidering rules that would have required automakers to significantly cut passenger vehicle emissions and increase EV production.

The Biden administration’s 2024 regulations aimed to slash fleetwide tailpipe emissions nearly 50% by 2032, requiring between 35% and 56% of new vehicle sales to be electric by the early 2030s. Automakers, including Ford, had backed the plan, which was expected to drive investment in EV production and infrastructure. However, the Trump administration argues the regulations place an undue burden on automakers and consumers.