The UK government has announced plans for a new, globally-recognised certification scheme to verify the sustainability of low carbon hydrogen and build sector transparency.
Currently, there is no accepted method for low carbon hydrogen manufacturers to verify the quality of their product. The government says that to decarbonise the UK hydrogen industry, promote cross-border trade, and spur growth and employment in green hydrogen, a trustworthy methodology for proving hydrogen’s emissions credentials must be established.
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart said, “Consumers and businesses care about investing sustainably. Thanks to this new scheme, investors and producers will be able to confidently identify and invest in trusted, high-quality British sources of low carbon hydrogen, both home and abroad.”
The government will now start working with business, with the goal of implementing the certification scheme by 2025. A public consultation has been launched, which seeks industry views on the design of the scheme.
Growing a hydrogen economy
Hydrogen has various innovative uses, including as a replacement fuel for high temperature processes such as glass manufacture, or as a raw material for products such as steel.
The UK has set a commitment for up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, and last year appointed Jane Toogood as the UK’s first Hydrogen Champion, to accelerate plans. Yesterday (9th February), the government announced her appointment will be extended for a further six months.
Jane Toogood said, “Hydrogen is an essential piece of the puzzle to decarbonise UK industry, support clean growth and improve our long-term energy security. It’s great to see progress being made towards setting up a UK certification scheme – this is key to growing a low carbon hydrogen economy.”
The scheme intends to use the methodology set out in the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard as the basis of the certification.
