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Update: 21January March 20242026

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Update:

• expanded 21eligibility Decemberrequirements 2023

Thisfor secondbiomethane reviewsupply, ofnow theallowing Lowsourcing Carbonvia Hydrogenthe Standard,gas LCHSgrid Versionunder 3,a clarifiesmass severalbalance areas of the Standard:

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• definitionEnergy Guarantees of ‘StandardOrigin Compliance’(REGOs), andaligning thewith conditionswider forenergy Standardsector Compliancepractices
• refinementintroduction of keyasphalt electrolyticas requirementsan includingadditional eligiblesolid PPAcarbon definition,permissible REGOend requirements,use calculations for transmission and distributionclarification losses
• newof requirements for electricitygas storagesplitting systems
• updatedproduction terminologypathways
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• monitoring,updated reportingemissions andfactors, verificationtechnical requirements
• newparameters valuesand / calculation methodologies forin Estimated,the MeasuredData and Typical dataAnnex
• intentionrestructured toguidance developand anupdated evidenceterminology frameworkthroughout for claimingimproved natural gas GHG emission intensity from a specific sourceclarity
• treatmentnew ofversions refinery off-gases as a feedstock
• amendments to the treatment of non-productionHydrogen emissions
• introductionEmissions ofCalculators annual(HEC) reviewwhich processreflect forupdated fugitivepathways hydrogenand emissions​data

See the full update notice on page 56 of the Standard.main LCHS Standard document.

The Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard sets(LCHS) outlines a maximummethodology threshold for thecalculating amountlifecycle ofemissions greenhousefrom gashydrogen emissionsproduction allowedand insets thecompliance productionrequirements, processincluding a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions threshold, for hydrogen to be considereddefined as ‘low carboncarbon’. hydrogen’.The ComplianceLCHS withaims theto Standard will help ensure newthat lowgovernment-supported carbon hydrogen production makesdirectly acontributes direct contribution to achieving our carbon reduction targets.

TheHydrogen Standardproducers setsin out the methodologyUK forseeking calculatingto theclaim emissionstheir associatedhydrogen withas hydrogen‘low productioncarbon’, andincluding thefor stepseligibility producersfor shouldgovernment takeschemes, need to provedemonstrate that thethey hydrogenhave theyfollowed producethe isLCHS compliantand complied with theits Standard.requirements.

ItThe isLCHS forplaces userequirements byon hydrogen producersproducers, seekingincluding supportfor fromthem governmentto:

• calculate schemes and policiesreport thattheir haveGHG adoptedemissions theup Standard,to andthe will‘point beof appliedproduction’ whenby assessingfollowing eligibility.

  Thethe Standardprescribed requiresmethodology

• produce hydrogen producersthat to:
  • meetmeets a a GHG emission emissions intensity of 20g CO2e/MJLHV of produced hydrogen or less for the hydrogen to be considered low carbon
  • calculateemploy theiran greenhouseeligible gashydrogen (GHG)production emissions up to the ‘point of production’pathway
  • set out a risk mitigation plan for fugitive hydrogen emissions and produce an annual report annuallyon these fugitive emissions
  • meet additional requirements for the use of biogenic inputs, where relevant and as appropriate for the feedstockbiogenic material’s source and classification
  • meet the conditions of Standard Compliance thatas applyapplicable to their production methodspathway
  • have a Data Collection and Monitoring Procedure in place with the relevant Delivery Partner for the corresponding scheme applying the Standard

  We willexpect to continue to review and update the Low Carbon Hydrogen StandardStandard, regularly to ensure theit guidance remains fit for purpose and reflectskeeps ourpace with the growing understandinghydrogen ofeconomy.

  Data howannex newto technologiesthe workLow inCarbon practice,Hydrogen includingStandard

  The howdata hydrogenannex productionprovides interactsdata and other useful information needed to determine compliance with the broaderGHG energyEmissions systemIntensity Threshold and widerother standards.requirements within the LCHS. 

  The data annex is reviewed and updated on a regular basis to incorporate new industry practices, respond to changes in referenced datasets, and adopt more accurate or up-to-date sources of information.

  Previous versions of the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard

Projects receiving government support should use the the version of the StandardLCHS mentioned in their specific agreement. 

You can access previous versions in the zipped files under Documents.Documents.

Hydrogen emissionsEmissions calculator

The calculator has been updated for use with the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard, Version 3,4, DecemberJanuary 2023.2026.

UseThe theHydrogen hydrogenEmissions emissionsCalculator calculator (HEC) should be used to calculate the greenhouseGHG gas emissions associated with a prospective hydrogen production facility andto determine its likely compliance with the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

For government schemes and policies applying the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard, the appropriate scheme guidance will confirm whether they need to use the calculator, and if necessary, how it should be used.

There are 2 versions of the calculator: use the streamlined version for electrolytic production pathways, and the full version for all other production routes. Electrolytic projects using biogenic inputs to generate electricity should use the full version.

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

2. 2. The full version - this accommodates data related to any current eligible hydrogen production pathwaypathways as detailed in the Standard.LCHS.

Note that electrolytic projects using biogenic inputs to generate electricity must use the full version.

Calculator training videos

We have produced training videos on various aspects of using the calculator:calculator: 

• Overview
• Electrolytic example project
• Fossil gas reformation with CCS example project
• Biomass gasification with CCS example project
• Municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification with CCS example project
• Biomethane reformation with CCS example project