History

The Green Hydrogen Organisation (GH2) was launched in September 2021.

On 4 November 2021, GH2 announced the development of the Green Hydrogen Standard. GH2 called on governments, industry, the financial community, and civil society organizations to support a global effort to establish clear standards and accreditation for green hydrogen. At the launch, GH2 noted greater awareness about the role of hydrogen in meeting our energy transition and climate change goals. However, the outlook for green hydrogen based on renewable energy needed to be differentiated from hydrogen based on fossil fuels. GH2 rejects the use of the term ‘clean hydrogen’ to conflate the outlook for green hydrogen based on renewable energy and hydrogen based on expanding the use of fossil-fuels.

GH2 developed a global standard that focuses exclusively on green hydrogen. The Green Hydrogen Standard comprises three pillars:

  1. Rigorous accounting of greenhouse gas emissions – guaranteeing close to zero emissions. The GH2 Standard addresses total greenhouse gas emissions, guaranteeing that green hydrogen is based on renewable sources with close to zero emissions. The GH2 Standard is rigorous, yet practical, with carbon accounting procedures and thresholds that can be applied consistently to grid and off grid production.
  2. Environmental, social and governance performance. The GH2 Standard tracks the overall social, environmental and governance impact of GH2 certified hydrogen.
  3. The development impact. Green hydrogen development can provide developing countries with zero-carbon energy to support energy sector development, increase energy security and create export opportunities. The GH2 Standard requires that the development impact of any GH2 Standard certified green hydrogen is assessed based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On 1-2 December 2021, GH2 hosted an expert roundtable on the development of the Green Hydrogen Standard and called on interested stakeholders to join the Green Hydrogen Standard Technical Committee. The Technical Committee meet virtually between December 2021 and April 2022 and made a recommendation to GH2 Board.

The Green Hydrogen Organisation was launched the Green Hydrogen Standard at the Green Hydrogen Global Assembly & Exhibition in Barcelona in May 2022.