Certification of Hydrogen Imports: Which Requirements, Which Perspectives?

The REPowerEU Communication, published by the European Commission in 2022, confirmed the previously set target of 10 million tons (Mt) of renewable hydrogen to be produced in the EU by 2030 and added a target of 10 Mt of imported renewable hydrogen on top of it. Still in 2022, hydrogen accounted for less than 2% of Europe’s energy consumption and was primarily used to produce chemical products, such as plastics and fertilisers.

In order to facilitate the market uptake of hydrogen and in particular its upscale to the international dimension, the Commission envisaged the development of three major hydrogen import corridors via the Mediterranean, the North Sea area and, as soon as conditions allow, with Ukraine; at the same time, it supported the development of Green Hydrogen Partnerships, to facilitate the imports of green hydrogen while supporting the decarbonisation in the partner countries.

Alongside the natural matching of demand with supply, and the development of the necessary infrastructure, what is further needed as to set the basis for an international trading of hydrogen, seems to be a robust system of reliable and mutually recognised certification system.

Worldwide certification systems are typically based on aligned understanding of terminology and standardization, as well as on trust.

The EU and the US seem to be the first movers on getting to an agreed set of rules/definitions. Regarding terminology, the European Commission enshrined in regulation the definition of renewable hydrogen (as belonging to the category of RFNBOs, Renewable Fuels of non-biological origin) and has recently opened a consultation aiming to complete the definition of low-carbon hydrogen. In the US, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes comparable rules focusing on hydrogen’s generation emission intensity.

On EU RFNBO Certification, the EU Commission is evaluating different types of certificates. These certification schemes can be used by a production company to serve the needs of its customers and want to offer products meeting certain sustainability criteria. However, these certificates are only voluntary at present. Identifying and implementing mandatory standards should probably become the very first step to advance international certification of hydrogen traded products.

If so, are there any best practises to build on? Where are the main bottlenecks?

Programme

Introduction to the Debate and Opening Presentations

14.00 – 14.05 Introduction to the Debate

Ilaria Conti | FSR

14.05 – 14.20 Certification Requirements in the EU

Ruta Baltause | DG ENER

14.20 – 14.30 Certification Requirements in the US

Chelsea Baldino | ICCT

Panel Discussion: Introductory Remarks, Polls and Comments

Moderator: Alberto Pototschnig | FSR

14.30 – 15.00 Introductory remarks from the panellists

Maximilian Kuhn | Hydrogen Europe

Peter Biltoft-Jensen | Ørsted, Energy Traders Europe

Katrien Verwimp | AIB

Nicolai Romanowski | CEFIC

Francisca Gallegos | University of Eastern Finland 

15.00 – 15.25

Discussion and Q&A with the audience

15.25 – 15.30 Concluding remarks

Ilaria Conti | Florence School of Regulation

Alberto Pototschnig | Florence School of Regulation