UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard
The UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard for hydrogen producers to use for greenhouse gas emissions reporting, including a calculator tool.
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Details
Update: 21 March 2024
Hydrogen emissions calculator (HEC) files updated to resolve some errors highlighted through HAR 2 applications. All applicants should use updated HEC files (version 4.8) to avoid errors.
Update: 21 December 2023
This second review of the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard, LCHS Version 3, clarifies several areas of the Standard:
- revised structure and language to ensure enforceability under the Low Carbon Hydrogen Agreement
- definition of ‘Standard Compliance’ and the conditions for Standard Compliance
- refinement of key electrolytic requirements including eligible PPA definition, REGO requirements, calculations for transmission and distribution losses
- new requirements for electricity storage systems
- updated terminology
- treatment of electricity from waste
- addition of ‘gas splitting with solid carbon’ as an eligible production pathway
- monitoring, reporting and verification requirements
- new values / calculation methodologies for Estimated, Measured and Typical data
- intention to develop an evidence framework for claiming natural gas GHG emission intensity from a specific source
- treatment of refinery off-gases as a feedstock
- amendments to the treatment of non-production emissions
- introduction of annual review process for fugitive hydrogen emissions
See the full update notice on page 5 of the Standard.
The Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard sets a maximum threshold for the amount of greenhouse gas emissions allowed in the production process for hydrogen to be considered ‘low carbon hydrogen’. Compliance with the Standard will help ensure new low carbon hydrogen production makes a direct contribution to our carbon reduction targets.
The Standard sets out the methodology for calculating the emissions associated with hydrogen production and the steps producers should take to prove that the hydrogen they produce is compliant with the Standard.
It is for use by hydrogen producers seeking support from government schemes and policies that have adopted the Standard, and will be applied when assessing eligibility.
The Standard requires hydrogen producers to:
- meet a GHG emissions intensity of 20g CO2e/MJLHV of produced hydrogen or less for the hydrogen to be considered low carbon
- calculate their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions up to the ‘point of production’
- set out a risk mitigation plan for fugitive hydrogen emissions and report annually
- meet additional requirements for the use of biogenic inputs, where relevant and as appropriate for the feedstock source and classification
- meet the conditions of Standard Compliance that apply to their production methods
We will review the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard regularly to ensure the guidance remains fit for purpose and reflects our growing understanding of how new technologies work in practice, including how hydrogen production interacts with the broader energy system and wider standards.
Previous versions of the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard
Projects receiving government support should use the version of the Standard mentioned in their specific agreement.
You can access previous versions in the zipped files under Documents.
Hydrogen emissions calculator
The calculator has been updated for use with the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard, Version 3, December 2023.
Use the hydrogen emissions calculator (HEC) to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a prospective hydrogen production facility and 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. For electrolytic projects - this streamlined version can accommodate data related to typical electrolytic hydrogen production processes (covering all types of electricity source).
2. The full version accommodates data related to any current eligible hydrogen production pathway as detailed in the Standard.
Calculator training videos
We have produced training videos on various aspects of using the calculator:
Updates to this page
Last updated 21 March 2024 + show all updates
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Updated Hydrogen emissions calculator (HEC) files to resolve some errors highlighted through HAR 2 applications. All applicants should use updated HEC files (version 4.8) to avoid errors.
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The Hydrogen Production Revenue Support (Directions, Eligibility and Counterparty) Regulations 2023 are now in force: we have republished the Standard to note that this version will be used for assessing eligibility under the Regulations.
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Published Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard version 3.
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We have updated the calculator files with a fix to a broken formula and minor usability improvements.
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Published calculators for use with version 2 of the Standard.
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UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard Version 2, April 2023, published.
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We expect to publish version 2 (April 2023) of the guidance and calculator for greenhouse gas emissions reporting and sustainability criteria under the UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard shortly.
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Calculator files updated: minor functionality improvements and text clarifications.
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Guidance and HEC training videos updated. Clarification questions added.
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Added final 3 Hydrogen emissions calculator training videos.
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Original versions of the standard guidance and Hydrogen Emissions Calculators (HECs) updated, 1. so that the default natural gas upstream emissions factor better reflects the current composition of the UK natural gas network, 2. to improve the HEC functionality.
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Hydrogen emissions calculator training videos added.
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Added hydrogen emissions calculator. This can be used to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a prospective hydrogen production facility, and so determine its likely compliance with the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard.
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First published.