Consultation outcome

UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Certification Scheme

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government
This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Detail of outcome

The government response confirms the commitment to launch a scheme from 2025 to aid in the decarbonisation of the UK economy and support the ambition to reach Net Zero by 2050.

The scheme will:

  • be based on the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard
  • be initially voluntary
  • aim to be UK-wide
  • use a mass balance chain of custody

We intend to appoint the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) as our delivery partner.

We will publish a pathway to international alignment ahead of launching the scheme.

This response forms part of the government’s Smarter Regulation programme of regulatory reform announcements that began in May 2023 with the publication of Smarter Regulation to Grow the Economy. Smarter regulation is about improving regulation across the board, ensuring it is clear and proportionate.

The scheme will enable further investment, innovation and growth in the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen sector to provide greater domestic energy security and the decarbonisation of the UK economy. Our commitment to future international alignment will also reduce future barriers for UK producers planning to export. We will be considering the impact on stakeholders of any proposed changes to the scheme.

Detail of feedback received

We received 72 responses from a wide range of stakeholders including:

  • trade associations
  • consultancies
  • non-government organisations
  • other government departments
  • organisations involved in hydrogen production projects
  • midstream operators
  • wider energy stakeholders

A full list of respondents is set out in the government response.

Responses to the consultation, as well as extensive stakeholder engagement, have help shaped the policy decisions that the government response commits to.


Original consultation

Summary

We're seeking views on the design elements of a low carbon hydrogen certification scheme.

This consultation ran from
to

Consultation description

This consultation seeks views on the design elements of a low carbon hydrogen certification scheme.

The proposals cover the following areas:

  • fundamental design of the scheme
  • what information should be contained on a certificate
  • our preferred approach to chain of custody
  • additional design considerations
  • delivery and administration of the scheme

The consultation will be of particular interest to organisations involved in the production and distribution of hydrogen, as well as end users and those with an interest in wider energy system impacts and decarbonisation. It will also be of interest to stakeholders in the hydrogen industry, as well as those with a wider interest in the UK’s net zero ambition.

Online webinar - 21 February 2023

The consultation team hosted a webinar, to provide an overview of the consultation and answer any questions.

Read our consultation privacy notice.

Documents

UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Certification Scheme: consultation

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UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Certification Scheme: De Minimis Assessment

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Updates to this page

Published 9 February 2023
Last updated 27 October 2023 + show all updates
  1. Government response and revised impact assessment published.

  2. Details of a live webinar on 21 February 2023 added.

  3. First published.

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