In the first global effort of its kind, green hydrogen projects that meet the Green Hydrogen Standard will be licensed to use the label GH2 Green HydrogenTM.
These projects will be eligible to obtain and trade GH2 certificates of origin for green hydrogen and derivatives such as green ammonia.
The Green Hydrogen Organisation is working to dramatically accelerate the uptake of green hydrogen to rapidly phase out fossil fuels in industries like steel, cement, fertilizers, shipping and aviation. In order to scale up the green hydrogen market, GH2 is today launching the Green Hydrogen Standard. The Standard provides certainty and transparency to investors and other stakeholders that green hydrogen is exactly that: hydrogen made with renewable electricity which conforms to the highest standards on emissions, ESG and the sustainable development goals.
The inextricable march of green hydrogen has been further strengthened by the global acceptance of the GH2 Standard which will ensure people get what they think they are paying for - a fuel which does not harm the planet. Anyone who talks blue or any other colour as “green” is out to mislead firstly their customers and secondly, and much worse, the local community and global public. This must be called for what it is: greenwashing.
I congratulate GH2 on launching the Green Hydrogen Standard. This is a very timely and critical first step in building the confidence and transparency needed in the market amongst producers, investors, offtakers and the broader community to kick start the global trade of green hydrogen. If there is any chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, every industry sector must pull its weight. Green H2 is the true green solution to decarbonising the notoriously hard to abate industry sectors the group operates in. We are on track to produce green hydrogen by Q1 2023, so the future of green hydrogen is now. We encourage governments and key industry players around the world to rally behind the Green Hydrogen Standard.
Hydrogen is going to play a decisive role on the way to a more sustainable world, and is one of the energy carriers of the future. It is therefore extremely important to create appropriate structures for the development and rapid ramp-up of a global hydrogen infrastructure. I am convinced that the Green Hydrogen Standard will help to make green hydrogen a commodity, to set the commercial stage through defining green hydrogen and to extend global collaboration. Therefore, thyssenkrupp wishes to actively help shape the GH2 standard in a way that serves this goal and will promote its acceptance.
This standard sets a clear benchmark for green hydrogen as the world's 'new oil', along with net zero industrial parks as the 'new infrastructure'. Taken together they will accelerate the drive towards green industrialisation, increase market confidence and support the global energy transition.
Establishing a standard and certification methods will help build confidence in the market for buyers of green hydrogen. As a global hydrogen producer, we view this as an important step towards accelerating the deployment of green hydrogen, which will be critical to reaching net zero.
The launch of GH2’s Green Hydrogen Standard is great news for the industry. It will enable countries like Chile to trade its competitive products together with providing certainty to consumers about the compliance of strong sustainability criteria.
We believe that the Green Hydrogen Organisation's effort to accelerate the spread of green hydrogen is also one of the important pillars, and we are confident that these efforts will bring forth carbon neutrality in the future.
Hydrogen and derivative fuels and feedstocks have great potential to grow rapidly around the world and are needed to meet net zero, but will only deliver meaningful emissions reductions if the hydrogen production itself is as clean as possible. DNV is very pleased to be working with GH2 and project developers to help ensure that new hydrogen production is truly environmentally and socially sustainable. DNV’s rigorous assurance work will help build confidence in this growing sector.
FFI is committed to the production of green hydrogen with zero carbon emissions and strong sustainability criteria. The Green Hydrogen Standard sets a benchmark for what can be considered ‘GH2 Green Hydrogen’, and we plan to implement it across our global portfolio of green hydrogen projects.
As the premier anchor in North America for the GH2 Green Hydrogen Standard, we were the first company in the region to sign on and champion this global measure -- setting this high bar as a market leader to better ensure healthy communities for generations to come. We are thrilled to see that DNV has partnered with GH2 in order to drive transparency and certainty for the green hydrogen industry. Hy Stor is proud of its commitment to produce zero-carbon, zero-methane at scale at our Mississippi Clean Hydrogen Hub and we have the deep expertise and resources necessary to champion decarbonization for the hardest to abate industrial sectors.
About
The Green Hydrogen Standard™
The Green Hydrogen Organisation (GH2) launched the Green Hydrogen Standard at the Green Hydrogen Global Assembly & Exhibition in Barcelona in May 2022.
“The Standard provides certainty and transparency to investors and other stakeholders that green hydrogen is exactly that hydrogen made with renewable electricity which conforms to the highest standards on emissions, ESG and the sustainable development goals.”
— Malcolm Turnbull, GH2 Chair
In the first global effort of its kind, green hydrogen projects that meet the Green Hydrogen Standard (“the standard”) will be licensed to use the label “GH2 Green Hydrogen” and will be eligible to obtain and trade GH2 certificates of origin for green hydrogen and derivatives such as green ammonia.
GH2’s definition of Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced through the electrolysis of water with 100% or near 100% renewable energy with close to zero greenhouse gas emissions (<=1 kg CO2e per kg H2 taken as an average over a 12-month period).
GH2’s definition is based on the technologies that are the leading candidates for scaling up green hydrogen production: hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, wave and other ocean energy sources. The Standard refers to “near 100% renewable energy”. There is some flexibility (e.g., for backup systems) so long as the maximum greenhouse gas emissions threshold is not exceeded.
Validating “close to zero” emissions of <1 kg CO2e per kg H2
The production of renewable electricity can involve some greenhouse gas emissions. In certain circumstances, there may be some greenhouse gas emissions associated with electrolysis and associated processes (such as water treatment / desalination). Accordingly, GH2 refers to “close to zero greenhouse gas emissions”. The Standard requires that projects operate at <=1 kg CO2e per kg H2 (taken as an average over a 12-month period).
The <=1 kg CO2e per kg H2 threshold is considerably lower than the thresholds proposed by other so-called “clean hydrogen” or “low carbon hydrogen” standards, which have significantly higher emissions threshold to accommodate hydrogen production based on fossil fuels. Green hydrogen is the only option aligned with a 1.5-degree pathway.
Principles of the Green Hydrogen Standard
The Green Hydrogen Standard provides a clear global minimum standard, while also retaining the flexibility to accommodate local challenges and opportunities. The following seven principles will be applied throughout the accreditation and certification process:
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Sovereignty and subsidiarity. GH2 acknowledges that the development of natural resources and energy markets is in the domain of sovereign governments to be exercised in the interest of their citizens and national development. To avoid duplication, demonstrating adherence to credible and comprehensive national requirements? shall be deemed sufficient to meet GH2’s accreditation and certification requirements. Similarly, any potential breaches of GH2’s requirements by government agencies and/or other parties in relation to the project shall be fully considered. Science-based knowledge should be applied, referring to peer-reviewed literature and internationally accepted standards.
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Proportionality (materiality). GH2 shall ensure proportionality in the accreditation and certification framework. The process should emphasise the most significant issues and impacts and allow for minor gaps / deviations in meeting the requirements where the broader objective of the requirement is met.
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Harmonisation. To improve quality and efficiency, GH2 encourages alignment with international best practice and will work to ensure the interoperability of its work with organisations that are pursuing similar objectives.
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Consultation. GH2 accreditation and certification requires clear evidence of proactive and broad-based stakeholder consultation. All stakeholders have important and relevant contributions to make - including governments and their agencies, companies and their suppliers, local communities who may be affected by the project, financial organisations, investors and non-governmental organisations. We support the principle of free, prior and informed consent.
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Transparency. To contribute to informed public debate and building trust, the GH2 expects disclosures from project operators to be proactive, comprehensive, and publicly accessible. Project operators should find out what is of particular relevance and interest to specific stakeholders and seek the best ways to share that information. This information should be made freely available online and in other relevant formats to the community concerned? . Free access to, and subsequent re-use of, open data are of significant value to society.
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Independent verification, concerns and appeals. GH2 relies on project operators to make a complete and compelling case of how they are meeting the Standard, which will be subject to independent review. GH2 will develop a review and appeal procedure but in the first instance, stakeholders with a concern regarding compliance with the Standard should raise it with the project operator and/or the appropriate national authorities. If this is not appropriate or if the concern remains, the stakeholder may petition GH2 to consider the matter.
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Further development of the Standard. The Standard seeks to balance predictability and flexibility in a new and rapidly growing industry. Project proponents have emphasised the need for clear and stable standards to inform long term planning. Stakeholders are also in agreement that GH2 should take into account emerging best practices, particularly as projects are scaled up from pilots to large scale operation. GH2 will review the lessons learned from the accreditation and certification process in consultation with all stakeholders. Any subsequent refinements or modifications to the Standard will include transitional arrangements that will allow project operators to make the necessary adjustments within a reasonable timeframe before coming into force.
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