Policy record
UK Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard (LCHS) — Version 4
JurisdictionGBR
Legal statusin_force
RelevanceCore
InstrumentCertification standard
Effective2026-01-01
Policy details
SummaryThe LCHS sets a mandatory greenhouse gas emissions intensity threshold for hydrogen to qualify as 'low carbon' in the UK, providing a lifecycle GHG methodology covering production routes (electrolytic, CCUS-enabled, biomass/waste gasification, gas splitting) required for eligibility for all UK government support schemes including the HPBM.
Key thresholdsMaximum GHG intensity: 20.0 gCO2e/MJLHV of hydrogen at point of production (lifecycle basis). Reporting unit: 30-minute intervals (V4 update). Electrolytic hydrogen: electricity must be accounted for using REGOs (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin); V4 adds new evidential requirements for REGOs. Biomethane via gas grid now eligible with expanded criteria. Solid carbon: asphalt newly permitted as stored solid carbon. CCUS-enabled routes: CO2 capture rate and storage permanence must be demonstrated. V4 published January 2026; V3 was December 2023.
Support valueQualification under LCHS is a prerequisite for HPBM revenue support and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund grants; no direct financial support attached to certification itself.
Practical implicationThe 20 gCO2e/MJLHV threshold is a hard gate — projects that cannot demonstrate compliance on a full lifecycle basis cannot access any UK revenue support, so electrolytic developers must secure verifiable REGO-backed electricity contracts before submitting HAR applications.
Official source
9 sourced values · 0 earlier records
| Source | Publisher | Link checked |
|---|---|---|
| Open official source ↗ | www.gov.uk |