'Clean Hydrogen Certification' Classified Within Grade 5 by Category Key... Detailed Standards to Be Flexibly Operated Through Official Notice

Resolution of the 'Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Hydrogen Act' at the State Council Meeting

The government has decided to implement the clean hydrogen certification system, which it is promoting to foster the hydrogen economy, by classifying it into up to five grades. Detailed criteria for each grade will be established through a Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) notification to allow flexible responses and adaptive management based on technological maturity and other factors.

On the 14th, MOTIE announced that the partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the "Act on the Promotion of the Hydrogen Economy and Hydrogen Safety Management," which includes these provisions, was approved at the Cabinet meeting.

So far, the government has prepared the clean hydrogen certification system considering trends in major countries and domestic conditions related to clean hydrogen certification. After legislative notice, regulatory review, and review by the Ministry of Government Legislation, the amendment to the Enforcement Decree was approved at this Cabinet meeting. The approved amendment contains foundational regulations for implementing the clean hydrogen certification system, including certification standards and procedures, post-certification management, and designation of certification bodies.

First, regarding the clean hydrogen certification standards delegated from the Hydrogen Act to the Enforcement Decree, certification will be conducted by classifying into up to five grades according to the amount of greenhouse gases emitted.

An official from MOTIE explained, "Overseas, clean hydrogen is certified by classifying it into four grades, so our certification system is being reviewed at a similar level," adding, "Specific grade classifications and criteria will be established by a MOTIE ministerial notification around next month."

The amendment to the Enforcement Decree also clarified the support targets. While the Hydrogen Act states that "administrative and financial support may be provided," the amendment concretizes the support targets as follows: ▲ technology development, facility investment, distribution and supply systems, and employment creation support to promote the production and use of clean hydrogen ▲ incentives based on clean hydrogen production and usage volumes ▲ and other support recognized as necessary by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Additionally, the amendment mandates that after certification, the maintenance of certification standards must be inspected at least once a year.

Park Chan-gi, Director of the Hydrogen Economy Policy Division at MOTIE, said, "Through this amendment to the Enforcement Decree, we expect to provide significant help in resolving investment uncertainties for companies by establishing a certification foundation for clean hydrogen, a key means of achieving carbon neutrality," and added, "We will also ensure the smooth implementation of related systems such as the Clean Hydrogen Power Generation Bidding Market (CHPS), which will be launched next year."

MOTIE plans to promptly complete follow-up tasks such as revising and notifying the Enforcement Rules of the Hydrogen Act and designating certification bodies to prepare for the implementation of the clean hydrogen certification system and actively promote the creation of a clean hydrogen ecosystem.

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