Hydrogen Criteria

The 'Hydrogen Criteria' document, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative in August 2023, establishes a draft framework for certifying hydrogen-related assets, projects, and entities. It defines eligibility for Use-of-Proceeds (UoP) bonds, Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs), and entity certifications across the hydrogen value chain, including production, conditioning, transportation, and storage. The criteria focus on strict greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity thresholds, mandatory adaptation and resilience assessments, and specific technical requirements for different production pathways.

• The criteria establish a declining carbon intensity trajectory for hydrogen production, starting at 3.0 kgCO2e/kgH2 in 2023 and reaching 0 kgCO2e/kgH2 by 2050.
• For new facilities using fossil gas commencing operation in 2023 or later, certification is only possible if they implement Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) or Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU), with eligibility limited until 2035.
• Hydrogen production facilities using electrolysis must demonstrate the use of additional renewable electricity through captive power generation, power purchase agreements (PPAs) linked to new capacity, or the use of curtailed renewable electricity.
• CCS and CCU infrastructure must meet a minimum capture rate of 90% from process and combustion/energy emission streams to be eligible for certification as a decarbonisation measure.
• The framework requires a comprehensive Adaptation and Resilience (A&R) assessment for all certified assets, using checklists to identify physical climate risks such as temperature rise, extreme rainfall, sea-level rise, and wildfires.
• Hydrogen delivery projects, including conditioning, transportation, and storage, are eligible only if they transport or store low-carbon hydrogen that meets the carbon intensity thresholds defined for production.
• For hydrogen produced from biomass, only waste and residues are eligible; wood and dedicated crops are explicitly excluded.
• Entity and SLB certifications are divided into two tiers: Tier 1 requires meeting the emissions intensity threshold at the time of certification, while Tier 2 allows entities that do not yet meet the threshold but have performance targets aligned with the 2030 threshold.
• The criteria prohibit the use of certified low-carbon hydrogen for specific end-uses, including building heating, light mobility, electricity storage, and power generation.

APA

Gençer, E., & Rodriguez, M. (2023). Hydrogen Criteria. Climate Bonds Initiative. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/criteria-document-hydrogen-production-and-delivery-draft-for-public-consultation-100823.pdf

Chicago

Gençer, Emre, and Marian Rodriguez. Hydrogen Criteria. Climate Bonds Initiative, 2023. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/criteria-document-hydrogen-production-and-delivery-draft-for-public-consultation-100823.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gençer |first1=Emre |last2=Rodriguez |first2=Marian |title=Hydrogen Criteria |publisher=Climate Bonds Initiative |date=August 2023 |url=https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/criteria-document-hydrogen-production-and-delivery-draft-for-public-consultation-100823.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gener2023hydrogen, author = {Gençer, Emre and Rodriguez, Marian}, title = {{Hydrogen Criteria}}, institution = {Climate Bonds Initiative}, year = {2023}, month = aug, url = {https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/criteria-document-hydrogen-production-and-delivery-draft-for-public-consultation-100823.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }