In 2025, CEN-CLC/JTC 14 ‘Energy management and energy efficiency in the framework of energy transition’ will continue working on aspects regarding energy management, efficiency, and energy audits. In particular, CEN-CLC/JTC 14 will focus on the finalization of the revision of EN 16325 ‘Guarantees of origin related to energy’ and of the amendment to EN 17463 ‘Valuation of Energy Related Investments (VALERI)’.
Electric Generation (including turbines) – Wind energy
Wind energy plays – and will continue to play – an important role in reaching the EU’s renewable energy targets. Standardization in the field includes wind turbines, wind power plants onshore and offshore, and interaction with the electrical system(s) to which energy is supplied. CLC/TC 88 ‘Wind turbines’ will continue working on the development of standards for wind turbines in the framework of the Frankfurt Agreement. Additionally, in 2025, an EC funded project will explore key aspects, standardization needs, and barriers for offshore wind turbines. In cooperation with CLC/TC 88, an exhaustive technical revision of the EN IEC 61400 series ‘Wind energy generation systems’ will be outlined.
Gas distribution and related services
CEN/TC 234 ‘Gas infrastructure’ is responsible for the standardization of functional requirements in the field of gas infrastructure, from the input of gas into the onshore transmission to the determination and coordination of all gas infrastructure aspects. In preparation of the repurposing of gas infrastructure for pure hydrogen, CEN/TC 234 will work on the following standards:
- The five parts of the EN 1918 series dealing with ’Gas Infrastructure – Underground Gas Storages’ will be revised to take into consideration the presence of hydrogen in the different types of underground storage installations.
- EN 1594 ‘Gas infrastructure – Pipelines for maximum operating pressure over 16 bar – Functional requirements’ intends to cover the conversion of high-pressure gas networks to hydrogen. The fraction mechanism steel will also be addressed
- The EN 12007 series on low-pressure gas networks aims to describe how to deal with the distribution of hydrogen.
CEN-CLC/JTC 6 ‘Hydrogen in energy system’ is responsible for standardization in the field of systems, devices, and connections for the production, storage, transport and distribution, measurement, and use of hydrogen.
In 2025, this JTC will cover the production of hydrogen by publishing a standard related to hydrogen generators using water electrolysis by adopting ISO 22734-1 as a first step.
In the field of hydrogen, safety is of utmost importance, and it is essential to address it properly to ensure safe operations. JTC 6 will work on a Technical Specification describing the measures for safe use of hydrogen in industrial built constructions. The document will give the technical rationale and operational guidance to address safe work in enclosed spaces in industrial environments.
The committee will also continue working on a deliverable on the safe use of hydrogen in built constructions.
CEN/TC 282 ‘Installation and equipment for LNG’ will work on the revision of EN 1473 ‘Installation and equipment for liquefied natural gas – Design of onshore installations’. This standard gives guidelines for the design, construction, and operation of all onshore Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) installations for the liquefaction, storage, vaporization, transfer, and handling of LNG and natural gas and is applicable to large-scale LNG plants with a storage capacity above 200 t.
Fuels (solid and gaseous fuels, petroleum and distillates)
CEN/TC 19 ‘Gaseous and liquid fuels, lubricants and related products of petroleum, synthetic and biological origin’ is working on updating central standards on fuel requirements and test methods that are essential for the automotive industry, as well as for millions of drivers using fuel in their everyday life. One of the goals it to make fuel more and more sustainable by adapting its composition and – in support of the future – update the Fuel Quality Directive (FQD – 98/70/EC). It requires technical collaboration to align on complex topics between different stakeholders, such as engine manufacturers, oil producers, chemical industries, and authorities.
- EN 228 ‘Automotive fuels – Unleaded petrol – Requirements and test methods’ is expected to be published by mid-2025. It poses the technical challenge of finding a good balance between oxygen and ethanol contents to maintain a high performance for engines.
- EN 590 ‘Automotive fuels – Diesel – Requirements and test methods’ is expected to be finalized by the end of 2025 and cover fuels containing up to 7,0% (volume fraction) of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester, generally known under the acronym FAME.
In 2025, CEN/TC 408 ‘Biomethane and other renewable and low-carbon methane rich gases’ will work on the revision of the EN 16723 series on ‘Natural gas and biomethane for use in transport and biomethane for injection in the natural gas network’. The sector decided that the parts currently dealing separately with the specification for biomethane for injection in the natural gas network on the one hand, and with the automotive specifications on the other hand, will be merged. New aspects will be integrated in the revised EN 16723. The scope will cover other renewable and low-carbon gases, and production processes other than digestion will be addressed, such as gasification and power-to-gas. The scope of CEN/TC 408 has been extended to allow standardization work in 2025 and beyond on existing mature renewable solutions, as well as on future topics currently under development.
Nuclear energy and related equipment
CLC/TC 45AX ‘Instrumentation, control and electrical power systems of nuclear facilities’ is responsible for the adoption of IEC/SC45A ‘Instrumentation, control and electrical power systems of nuclear facilities‘ as European standards and, if necessary, for the implementation of modifications necessary for their use in Europe. Modifications are limited in order to maximize consistency with international texts, including WENRA (Western European Nuclear Regulators’ Association) and IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safety and security principles.
As a result, CLC/TC 45AX’s standards are driven by all nuclear stakeholders on an international level, including but not limited to nuclear operators, equipment manufacturers and integrators, safety authorities, and research and educational institutions.
European standards in this area contribute to maintaining the highest levels of safety, security, and plant availability, and consequently contribute to the global harmonization of nuclear practices in the field of electrical, instrumentation, and control technologies. On 1 January 2023, the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Delegate Act entered into force, recognising nuclear energy as environmentally sustainable. In support of the EU Taxonomy, CLC/TC 45AX standards contribute to the development of nuclear power as a provider of high-capacity, on-demand, and carbon-free electricity, all essential factors for supporting economic development, prosperity, and energy independence whilst minimizing environmental impacts.
In 2025, the technical committee expects to adopt several new and revised international standards, including standards developed jointly with IEC/TC 45/SC 45A ‘Instrumentation, control and electrical power systems of nuclear facilities’ and IEEE NPEC (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers – Nuclear Power Engineering Committee) in accordance with the published joint logo IEC/IEEE development process:
- IEC/IEEE 62582 series on electrical equipment condition monitoring, edition 2;
- IEC/IEEE 63332-387 on diesel generator units as standby power sources for nuclear facilities, edition 1.
In 2025, CLC/TC 45AX’s work will also be largely driven by new European legislation and standardization requests related to cybersecurity (EU Cyber Resilience Act), artificial intelligence (EU Artificial Intelligence Act), and climate change aspects for nuclear infrastructure.
CEN/TC 430 ‘Nuclear energy, nuclear technologies, and radiological protection’, in collaboration with ISO/TC 85 ‘Nuclear energy, nuclear technologies, and radiological protection’, develops standards in the field of peaceful applications of nuclear energy, nuclear technologies, and protection of individuals and the environment against all sources of ionising radiation. In 2025, the Technical Committee will work in parallel with ISO/TS 85 on the development of the following standards:
- prEN ISO 20553 ‘Radiation protection – Monitoring of workers occupationally exposed to a risk of internal contamination with radioactive material’;
- prEN ISO 22765 ‘Nuclear fuel technology – Sintered (U,Pu)O2 pellets – Guidance for ceramographic preparation for microstructure examination’;
- EN ISO 16646 ‘Fusion installations – Criteria for the design and operation of confinement and ventilation systems of tritium fusion facilities and fusion fuel handling facilities’;
- EN ISO 22188 ‘Monitoring for inadvertent movement and illicit trafficking of radioactive material’.
CLC/TC 45B ‘Radiation protection instrumentation’ will adopt prEN IEC 61526:2024 ‘Radiation protection instrumentation – Measurement of personal dose equivalents Hp(10), Hp(3) and Hp(0,07) for X, gamma, neutron and beta radiations – Direct reading personal dosemeters' at the European level. The Technical Committee will also work on a common modification to prEN IEC 62387:2022/A12 ‘Radiation protection instrumentation – Dosimetry systems with integrating passive detectors for individual, workplace and environmental monitoring of photon and beta radiation’, an amendment mainly considering editorial corrections.
These standards will help to harmonize radiation protection practices and qualities in Europe. They will mainly be applied by manufacturers and testing laboratories.
Collected and purified water
In 2025, CEN/TC 164 ‘Water supply’ will continue working on standards in line with the Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184) and define thresholds for chemicals used to purify water for human consumption, such as prEN 1278 ‘Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption – Ozone’ and prEN 1018 ‘Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption – Calcium carbonate’.
Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services
CEN/TC 230 ‘Water analysis’ continues to support the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) through issuing standards covering methods to determine or analyze specific water parameters of interest. In this context, the TC will continue working on prEN 18025 ‘Water quality – Guidance standard on a strategic approach to river restoration’.
METHANE