In a report published today, IKEM identifies the steps needed to create a hydrogen economy by 2030, including the legal framework needed for certification, accounting and international trade in green hydrogen.
In the future, hydrogen is expected to play a crucial role in the energy supply and in industry, both in Germany and around the world. But before this potential can be realised, key aspects of the process must be clarified. For example, where will the hydrogen be produced – in Germany or abroad? When will facilities have the capacity to produce green hydrogen from electrolysis? How can hydrogen and its products be safely transported and stored? The answers to these and other questions will largely be determined by the legal framework.
As part of the Energy Systems of the Future (ESYS) project, IKEM prepared a legal opinion on certification, accounting and international trade systems for green hydrogen. According to the report, guarantees of origin for electricity and renewable gases will be the guiding principle for hydrogen certification and marketing. The authors advocate a unified European framework for hydrogen imports and propose that the same sustainability and emission reduction criteria used for biofuels be applied to hydrogen.
The legal framework for the 2030 hydrogen economy must be part of a transparent medium- and long-term strategy, the authors conclude. For hydrogen to help mitigate climate change and achieve climate goals, all stakeholders must be informed of the core elements of the target framework now – such as the phase-out of hydrogen production from fossil fuels and the use of ‘climate-neutral’ hydrogen. These steps can be made clear using the criteria for sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction.
