Consultation outcome - Designing a UK low carbon hydrogen standard

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This consultation sought views on:

• the methodological choices underpinning the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard (LCHS)
• the greenhouse gas emissions threshold against which different low carbon hydrogen production pathways would be measured

The responses have helped shape the design of the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard guidance published alongside this government response.

Hydrogen producers applying for Net Zero Hydrogen Fund and Low Carbon Hydrogen Business Model funding will need to follow the steps set out in the standard guidance document to ensure their hydrogen production pathway complies with the LCHS.

Upcoming events

We are hosting an online event on Thursday, 21 April, 3-4pm, to provide an overview of the government responses to the consultation package. Register for the event.

Detail of feedback received

We received 125 responses from a wide range of stakeholders including:

• organisations involved in hydrogen production projects
• wider energy stakeholders
• trade associations
• local government
• academics
• consultancies
• non-governmental organisations

The summary of responses includes key policy positions on the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.

We're seeking views on design options for a UK standard that defines 'low carbon' hydrogen, to underpin our support for hydrogen production.

This consultation ran from
9am on 17 August 2021 to 11:45pm on 25 October 2021

Consultation description

Working with industry, the UK’s ambition is for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. There are a variety of different ways to produce hydrogen, and whether this hydrogen is low carbon or not depends on the energy inputs and technologies used throughout this process. Current hydrogen production in the UK is almost all derived from fossil fuels, using steam methane reformation from natural gas without capturing and storing any of the resulting carbon emissions. However, as we look to meet our carbon budget and net zero commitments, we will need to switch to alternative low carbon production methods.

The UK Hydrogen Strategy, published alongside this consultation, sets out our approach to growing a new low carbon hydrogen economy, and as part of this we need to ensure that the hydrogen being produced is sufficiently low carbon to help meet our decarbonisation goals. Following extensive engagement with industry, academia and regulators, we are now setting out options for an emissions standard that defines what is meant by ‘low carbon’ hydrogen, including:

• a methodology for calculating GHG emissions associated with hydrogen production
• a subsequent greenhouse gas emissions threshold against which different low carbon hydrogen production pathways would be measured

We would expect businesses seeking financial support from government through the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund and the Hydrogen Business Model to meet the resulting standard.

This consultation is likely to be of interest to:

• those operating within the hydrogen value chain (production through to end use)
• the broader decarbonisation and environmental communities

Please read the accompanying report on Options for a UK low carbon hydrogen standard by E4tech (UK) Ltd and Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik GmbH.

Read the BEIS consultation privacy notice.

Please don’t send responses by post to the department at the moment as we may not be able to access them.

Consultation on a UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard

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