The IF25 auction now allocates separate funding pools for

• Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO), and
• Electrolytic Low-Carbon Hydrogen.

2 | Fortified Supply Chains

The sourcing rules have tightened sharply. Beyond a cap on electrolyser stacks, projects must now limit imports to a maximum of two main components from China. This change significantly impacts procurement strategy and favors projects that have local manufacturing partnerships, particularly across European OEMs and suppliers.

3 | Time-Sensitive Offtake Agreements

Under the new terms, all offtake agreements, including MoUs, LoIs, and term sheets, must be no older than 12 months at the time of submission. This prevents speculative or outdated bids and prioritizes projects with current commercial validation and real buyer commitments.

4 | Mandatory Compliance Requirements

Two new criteria — Cyber Security and Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) — are now non-negotiable. Projects must submit auditable compliance frameworks before financial evaluation begins. Failure to meet these standards results in automatic disqualification, even before bid prices are reviewed.

The Strategic Shift: Why Past Success No Longer Applies

The lessons from previous Hydrogen Bank auctions — aggressive bid pricing, rapid project scaling, and flexible offtake MoUs — will no longer suffice. Success in IF25 requires projects to show:

• Verified European supply chains
• Recent, credible offtake agreements
• Robust compliance governance
• Competitive but realistic pricing

Stay Updated With The Latest Policy Shifts Using HyPrism

Tired of assessing projects that won’t survive the IF25 test? The H2 Lead Navigator by VNZ Insights goes beyond surface-level data to evaluate projects against these new benchmarks — predicting their viability and funding potential under the latest European Hydrogen Bank rules.