'If greenhouse gases are less than 4kg per 1kg hydrogen production, it is clean hydrogen'

Ministry of Industry Holds Briefing on Clean Hydrogen Certification System
Emissions from Hydrogen Raw Material Transport Ships Temporarily Excluded
"Appropriate Method Needed to Fit Industrial Reality"

Greenhouse gas emission standards for certification as clean hydrogen in Korea have been presented. Greenhouse gases emitted from ships during the procurement of hydrogen raw materials will be temporarily excluded.

On the 17th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a briefing session on the clean hydrogen certification system at COEX in Seoul. The clean hydrogen certification system certifies hydrogen as clean hydrogen and provides incentives if the greenhouse gas emissions during the production or import process of hydrogen are below a certain level.

Since November 2021, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has been designing a certification system tailored to Korea’s characteristics through research conducted by a team from Seoul National University, Korea University, and others.

Professor Hanho Song of Seoul National University, who participated in the research, stated, “The greenhouse gas emission standard for certification as clean hydrogen in Korea is set at '4kgCO2eq/kgH2.'”

This means that if the greenhouse gas emissions are less than 4kg per 1kg of hydrogen produced, it will be recognized as clean hydrogen, which is the same as the United States (4kg). Europe (EU) and Japan have set similar levels at 3.38kg and 3.4kg, respectively. Additionally, Professor Song proposed that the scope of emission calculation should cover from the extraction of raw materials such as natural gas to hydrogen production.

Professor Song explained, “This is a result of comprehensively considering international trends, domestic technological levels, and industrial status. However, considering Korea’s unique circumstances, emissions from ships during the procurement of hydrogen raw materials will be temporarily excluded from the calculation scope.”

He also introduced emission calculation methods by hydrogen production type, emphasizing certification principles that ensure flexibility while aiming for effective greenhouse gas reduction.

Professor Heonyoung Kwon of Korea University proposed a system and procedural plan related to clean hydrogen certification. Professor Kwon added, “By dividing the clean hydrogen certification body into a certification operation organization and a certification testing and evaluation organization, and allowing major matters to be reviewed through a certification operation committee to be formed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, an efficient and objective certification system operation can be promoted.”

Hyejin Lee, Director of International Cooperation at H2KOREA, introduced support methods for clean hydrogen in major countries and proposed two support methods (difference and fixed amount) for Korea’s clean hydrogen support plan.

Director Lee stated, “To support the insufficient economics of early clean hydrogen, countries such as the UK, Germany, and Japan have designed and announced difference support methods tailored to their national circumstances, while the United States is promoting fixed amount support through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Korea also needs an appropriate method suitable for its industrial reality, and we must conduct in-depth research on these two plans to finalize the support method.”

After this briefing session, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy plans to establish the legal basis for the certification system through legislative notice of subordinate statutes and later define detailed and technical matters of the system through the enactment of operational regulations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.