UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard: emissions reporting and sustainability criteria

The Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard sets a maximum threshold for the amount of greenhouse gas emissions allowed in the production process for hydrogen to be considered ‘low carbon hydrogen’. Compliance with the standard will help ensure new low carbon hydrogen production makes a direct contribution to our carbon reduction targets.

This guidance sets out the methodology for calculating the emissions associated with hydrogen production and the steps producers should take to prove that the hydrogen they produce is compliant with the standard.

It is for use by hydrogen producers seeking support from government schemes and policies that have adopted the standard.

The standard requires hydrogen producers to:

• meet a GHG emissions intensity of 20g CO2e/MJLHV of produced hydrogen or less for the hydrogen to be considered low carbon
• calculate their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to the ‘point of production’
• set out a risk mitigation plan for fugitive hydrogen emissions
• meet additional requirements for the use of biogenic inputs, where relevant and as appropriate for the feedstock source and classification

Hydrogen emissions calculator

You can use the hydrogen emissions calculator (HEC) to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a prospective hydrogen production facility and determine its likely compliance with the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

You do not need to use the calculator for Strand 1 of the NZHF, but it is necessary if you are applying to Strand 2. For the remaining strands of the NZHF and future allocations of the hydrogen business model, the appropriate scheme guidance will confirm how the calculator should be used.

There are 3 versions of the calculator: use the streamlined versions for the production routes specified, and the full version for any other production route, or those that differ from ‘standard’ electrolytic or CCS-enabled projects.

1. For electrolytic projects - this streamlined version can accommodate data related to typical electrolytic hydrogen production processes (covering all types of electricity source).

2. For fossil gas reforming projects with carbon capture and storage (CCS) - this streamlined version can accommodate data related to typical hydrogen production processes with fossil gas as the primary input (steam methane reforming, autothermal reforming and partial oxidation processes).

3. The full version - this accommodates data related to any current hydrogen production process.