In 2026, 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, the Joint Technical Committee will focus on developing a new standard with the title 'Values and benefits of decarbonization and energy performance actions – A general framework for assessment' and aims to activate a preliminary work item on monitoring market needs for net zero transition plans and sustainable finance. Additionally, JTC 14 will start the revision of EN 16325 ‘Guarantees of origin related to energy'.
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 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 continue to work on the following standards:
- Storage: The revision of the five parts of the EN 1918 series on ’Gas Infrastructure – Underground Gas Storages’ will continue to take into consideration the presence of hydrogen in the different types of underground storage installations. The goal is to publish the series in 2026.
- Transmission (high-pressure grids): EN 1594 ‘Gas infrastructure – Pipelines for maximum operating pressure over 16 bar – Functional requirements’ is intended to cover the conversion of high-pressure gas networks to hydrogen. The fraction mechanism steel will be addressed, among other aspects. This standard will also be applied to the repurposing of existing pipelines.
- Distribution (low-pressure grids): The EN 12007 series on low-pressure gas networks will describe how to deal with the distribution of hydrogen.
When operating gas infrastructure, safety is a must. To ensure a high level of safety, the integrity of the asset needs to be regularly monitored. For this purpose, the gas industry has a very powerful tool in hand: the Safety Management System (SMS). With the update of EN 17649, the gas industry will benefit from the latest developments on the Pipeline Integrity Management System (PIMS) and the Compressor Station Integrity Management System (CIMS).
A Standardization Request in support of the Methane Emissions Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 is in the process of being finalized by the European Commission for the development of standards covering the emissions from upstream and midstream operations. The different Technical Committees (CEN/TC 12 ‘Oil and gas industries including lower carbon energy’, CEN/TC 234 and CEN/TC 264 ‘Air Quality’) involved in the topic will dedicate time and effort in 2026 and beyond to develop standardization deliverables to propose technical solutions for reducing emissions. The following three axes will be described:
- Methods for the quantification of the methane emissions in gas transmission, distribution, and storage systems and LNG terminals
- Technical requirements for implementing Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programmes
- The equipment to be installed in the field to help minimize the quantities of gas vented
The Technical Committees will benefit from the technical outcomes of two ongoing EISMEA projects covering methane emissions from upstream and midstream operations. The standardization deliverables produced in support of Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 will be referenced in a European Delegated Act.
Hydrogen has an enormous potential to support the energy transition in Europe, to ensure affordable and competitive energy for European consumers as well as increasing the EU’s energy security of supply to better prepare for emergencies. Hydrogen will clearly remain a topic of European strategic interest in 2026 and the following years.
The CEN and CENELEC coordination group on hydrogen (CEN-CLC/COG H2) will continue its mission to implement the Hydrogen Roadmap developed by the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance (ECH2A), under the umbrella of the European Commission, and to ensure that each part of the work programme is covered and properly allocated to a TC. This will be done essentially by bringing around the table more than 50 CEN and CENELEC TCs developing standards that contribute to the wider deployment of hydrogen technologies in Europe along the whole value chain: production, transmission, distribution, storage and injection infrastructure, safety, quality, and end-use applications (including transport).
The EISMEA project ‘HyQual Net’ about hydrogen quality in dedicated gaseous hydrogen networks will continue in 2026. Moreover, CEN and CENELEC expect to receive a Standardization Request on the quality of hydrogen as well as on other technical issues from the European Commission.
CEN-CLC/JTC 6 ‘Hydrogen in energy systems’ 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 the field of hydrogen, safety is of utmost importance. The risk linked with the presence of gas in enclosed spaces is well identified, and it is necessary to transpose the best practices and gained experience from natural gas to hydrogen. JTC 6 will work on a document that will give the technical rationale and operational guidance to address safe work in enclosed spaces in industrial environments.
The technical committee will also continue working on a deliverable on the safe use of hydrogen in built constructions.
The experts of JTC 6 will continue to collaborate with ISO on the sustainability characteristics of hydrogen through the development of EN ISO 19870-1 ‘Hydrogen technologies – Methodology for determining the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the hydrogen supply chain – Part 1: Emissions associated with the production of hydrogen to production gate’.
CEN/TC 282 ‘Installation and equipment for LNG’ will continue and finalize its work on an amendment of EN 1473:2021 ‘Installation and equipment for liquefied natural gas – Design of onshore installations’ to integrate technical updates. 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. In a second phase to start in 2026, a deeper revision of the same document will be launched to integrate other sustainable cryogenic liquid gases.
Electric Generation (including turbines) – Wind energy
CLC/TC 88 'Wind turbines' develops and maintains standards in the field of electrical energy generation from wind power plants, both onshore and offshore, and their integration into power systems, including energy conversion and Power-to-X applications.
In 2026, CLC/TC 88 will continue its cooperation with IEC/TC 88 under the Frankfurt Agreement and further contribute to the international harmonization of standards, ensuring functional safety, structural integrity, and environmental compatibility throughout the full life cycle of wind power plants, from design and construction to decommissioning and recycling.
Ongoing work includes the technical revision of the EN IEC 61400 series ‘Wind energy generation systems’, as well as New Work Items addressing digitalization, measurement techniques, condition monitoring, and grid integration. In parallel, an EC-funded project on offshore wind standardization and system interoperability, which is led by Spain, will provide input to future standardization deliverables.
CLC/TC 88 also supports innovation and the integration of wind energy as a reliable and sustainable generation source in the European energy system, maintaining close liaison with related CEN, CENELEC, and IEC Technical Committees to ensure coherence across domains and technologies.
Nuclear energy and related equipment
In 2023, the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Delegate Act entered into force, recognizing nuclear energy as environmentally sustainable. Furthermore, as a provider of high-capacity, on-demand, and carbon-free electricity, nuclear power is essential for supporting economic development, prosperity, and energy independence whilst minimizing environmental impacts.
CLC/TC 45AX ‘Instrumentation, control and electrical power systems of nuclear facilities’ and CEN/TC 430 ‘Nuclear energy, nuclear technologies, and radiological protection’ contribute to the effective development of nuclear power in Europe by ensuring that requirements and legislation specific to the European context can be adequately addressed through adoptions of international IEC/ISO standards as EN standards, whist minimizing modifications 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.
In 2026, CLC/TC 45AX will be largely driven by new European legislation related to cybersecurity (EU Cyber Resilience Act), Artificial Intelligence (EU Artificial Intelligence Act), and climate change aspects for nuclear infrastructure. CLC/TC 45AX also expects the adoption of the following international standard in 2026:
- IEC 62705 ED2 ‘Nuclear facilities – Instrumentation and control important to safety – Radiation monitoring systems (RMS): Characteristics and lifecycle’
- IEC 61225 ED4 ‘Nuclear power plants – Instrumentation, control and electrical power systems – Requirements for static uninterruptible DC and AC power supply systems’
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 ionizing radiation.
In 2026, the Technical Committee will work with ISO/TC 85 on the development of the prEN ISO 11929 series on ‘Determination of the characteristic limits (decision threshold, detection limit and limits of the coverage interval) for measurements of ionizing radiation – Fundamentals and application’.
CLC/TC 45B ‘Radiation protection instrumentation’ will further develop EN IEC 62387:2022/prAB:2025 ‘Radiation protection instrumentation – Dosimetry systems with integrating passive detectors for individual, workplace and environmental monitoring of photon and beta radiation’ and prEN IEC 61526:2025 ‘Radiation protection instrumentation – Measurement of personal dose equivalents for X, gamma, neutron and beta radiations – Active personal dosemeters’.
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 finalizing TS 18227 'Automotive fuels – E20 petrol – Requirements and test methods'. At the moment, marketed and delivered petrol fuel in Europe is E5 and E10 (EN 228, with a maximum ethanol content of 5% or 10% V/V). This new Technical Specification will cover marketed and delivered E20 petrol fuel (maximum ethanol content of 20% V/V) for use in spark-ignition petrol-fuelled engines and vehicles. With this new development, CEN/TC 19 will provide an additional option in decarbonizing the fuel sector.
Beside the specification of the quality of fuels like diesel and benzine that are regulated by the Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) 98/70/EC, CEN/TC 19 is also working on a large set of standards where laboratory methods are developed to determine the content and characteristics of fuels and lubricants. In 2026, CEN/TC 19 will revise EN 16423:2013 ‘Liquefied petroleum gases – Determination of dissolved residue – Gas chromatographic method using liquid, on-column injection’. One of the drivers for such a revision is to adapt the methods to the market availability of helium, a gas used in chromatography which is becoming more and more expensive, hence the request from the users of this method to allow nitrogen and hydrogen as alternatives. Preparatory work was already done to show that this is possible.
In 2026, CEN/TC 408 ‘Biomethane and other renewable and low-carbon methane rich gases’ will continue to 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 of biomethane for injection in the natural gas network on the one hand, and with automotive specifications on the other hand, will be merged. The revised EN 16723 will cover new aspects. The scope
encompasses other renewable and low-carbon gases, and production processes other than digestion will be addressed, including gasification and power-to-gas. The type of contaminants will be identified for different production processes and different intrants. This should allow performing analyses only when necessary. Moreover, it should reduce production costs and help develop biomethane and other renewable and low-carbon methane rich gases.
Collected and purified water
In 2026, CEN/TC 164 ‘Water supply’ will continue working on standards in line with the Drinking Water Directive (EU 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’. A new project is being developed to define test methods for the performance of UV devices for bactericidal treatment disinfection for potable water (standard on ‘Water conditioning equipment inside buildings – Devices using UV LED units – Requirements for performance, safety and testing’). Additionally, CEN/TC 164 will continue the work on ozone used for the treatment of pools and spas (FprEN 15074 ‘Chemicals used for treatment of swimming pool and spas water – Ozone’). The development of prEN 18268 ‘Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption – Antisclants for membranes – Citric Acid’ to establish minimum purity requirements for citric acid used for the treatment of water will continue in 2026.
Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services
CEN/TC 230 ‘Water quality’ will continue to support the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) in 2026 by reviewing and revising European standards to support the implementation of a good ecological status of surface waters. The revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/3019) calls for the analysis of additional parameters for persistent chemicals, wastewater surveillance, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), for which CEN/TC 230 and its national members will evaluate existing standards and propose new Work Items in 2026. A work item for the analysis of PFAS in wastewater has already been registered in CEN/TC 230 under the working title ‘Water quality – Determineation of selected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in wastewater – Method using liquid chromatography/tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)’. A project for SARS CoV2 detection for wastewater surveillance is under parallel development with ISO and will be available in 2026. Additionally, another work item has been registered in CEN/TC 230 to analyze drinking water for persistent TFA (Trifluoroacetic acid), which are contaminants from pharmaceutical and chemical industrial sources. The standard will support the EU Drinking Water Directive (Directive (EU) 2020/2184).
CARBON CAPTURE UTILISATION AND STORAGE (CCUS)