UK unveils certification to boost low carbon hydrogen sector

As the government reveals plans for a widely recognized low carbon hydrogen certification program, transparency and confidence in the UK’s low carbon hydrogen sector are expected to rise on the international stage.

Currently, there is no accepted method for low carbon hydrogen manufacturers to demonstrate the quality of their product. In order to decarbonize the UK hydrogen industry, promote cross-border commerce, and spur growth and employment in green hydrogen, a trustworthy mechanism for proving hydrogen’s emissions credentials must be introduced. The government will now start working with business, with the goal of implementing the certification program by 2025.

This will boost industry and consumer confidence in low carbon hydrogen while assisting the developing UK green energy market in validating sustainability claims. Ingenious uses for hydrogen include using it as a raw material for goods like steel and fertilizers as well as a replacement fuel for high-temperature processes like making glass or ceramics.

The UK government has extended Jane Toogood’s appointment as the nation’s first-ever Hydrogen Champion for an additional six months, further demonstrating its objectives in the field of hydrogen and in advance of this week’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The Hydrogen Champion’s job is crucial in bringing business and government together to hasten the growth of the UK hydrogen economy, and in the course of her current duties, Jane has visited with numerous business stakeholders to determine opportunities and pinpoint obstacles.

Interest in and investment in the creation of a global market for low carbon hydrogen have rapidly increased on a global scale with the publication of the UK Hydrogen Strategy in 2021. The entire hydrogen value chain, from producers to consumers, might benefit from a certification program for low-carbon hydrogen, fostering economic growth, job creation, and environmentally friendly firms.

The certification process will be based on the methods outlined in the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

The promises made today expand on the pledges made in the British Energy Security Strategy to treble the UK’s aim for hydrogen generation to up to 10GW of new low carbon capacity by 2030.