Renewables

Industry draws up first global definition of green hydrogen

Industry draws first global definition of green hydrogen

Photo: iStock

Published

May 19, 2022

Country

Comments

comments icon

1

Share

Published:

May 19, 2022

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

1

Share

The Green Hydrogen Organization (GH2) has published a Green Hydrogen Standard, the first-ever global definition of green hydrogen, for certification and labeling. When used, all types of hydrogen emit only water, but when produced, they can release different amounts of greenhouse gases, so there has to be a distinction between the “colors” of hydrogen – green, blue, grey, and pink.

Hydrogen is emerging as a major fuel for the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. It is seen as a solution for replacing oil and gas in heavy industry and transportation. However, hydrogen is often used as the greenwashing tool for producers and consumers of energy.

According to the Swiss non-profit organization, everyone needs to know that green hydrogen means hydrogen produced without significant associated GHG. It is a contrast, as they say, to most of the hydrogen used today, which is produced from natural gas by processes that typically result in more than ten kilos of CO2 emissions for each kilo of hydrogen.

The standard requires that green hydrogen projects operate with less than or equal to 1 kg CO2e per kg H2

Following consultations with the industry, GH2 drew up the definition, published it in the the Green Hydrogen Standard publication, and presented it during a summit in Barcelona.

The definition is as follows: green hydrogen is hydrogen produced through the electrolysis of water with 100% or near 100% renewable energy with close to zero GHG emissions. The standard requires that green hydrogen projects operate with less than or equal to 1 kg CO2e per kg H2, taken as an average over a 12-month period.

The standard also envisages the environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects of green hydrogen production to be addressed.

Nuclear energy is not eligible

“GH2’s definition of renewable energy is based on the technologies that are the leading candidates for scaling up green hydrogen production: hydropower, wind, solar, geothermal, tidal and other ocean energy sources,” said Malcolm Turnbull, the organization’s chairman.

According to him, there are countries which believe that there is a role for nuclear energy, but this kind of energy has environmental and safety related issues which this Standard is not designed to address.

GH2 certificates of origin will be launched

Of note, hydrogen from nuclear energy is called pink hydrogen. The most widespread types are blue hydrogen, produced from natural gas but with CO2 emissions kept in storage, and grey hydrogen, which is also produced from methane but without emissions’ storage.

GH2 has invited green hydrogen producers to have their projects independently accredited by GH2’s accreditation body to use the label “GH2 Green Hydrogen,” making them eligible to obtain and trade GH2 certificates of origin.

Comments (1)
Jan Boudart / May 21, 2022

I’m very glad GH2 designates a separate category, pink, for H2 produced from nuclear energy and that green H2 has to be made by electrolysis using only renewable sources.

But everyone seems to be ignoring the fact that when H2 burns it produces a powerful GHG, water vapor. There’s no free lunch and this is an other example of that maxim.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

Serbia drafts just transition action plan public debate

Serbia drafts just transition action plan

30 May 2025 - The Ministry of Mining and Energy has published a draft just transition action plan and launched a public debate

Regional Power Sector Exchange Western Balkans disitribution system operator dso grids ohrid giz

Third Regional Power Sector Exchange in Ohrid: Power grids at core of energy transition

30 May 2025 - The third Regional Power Sector Exchange of the Western Balkans gathered over 80 energy professionals from the Western Balkans

two solar power plants egesa enerji vojvodina

Turkish Egesa Enerji to build two solar power plants in Serbia’s Vojvodina province

30 May 2025 - Turkish company Egesa Enerji has launched a project to build two solar power plants in Vojvodina, with a total nominal capacity of 8.6 MW

Green for Growth Fund partnership Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency Sida

Green for Growth Fund launches partnership with Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

30 May 2025 - GGF and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency are expanding green lending in the Western Balkans and the EU's Eastern Neighborhood