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Life cycle assessment of hydrogen production pathways to support hydrogen decarbonization policies in a Canadian context

From National Research Council Canada

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DOIResolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-025-1008-2
AuthorSearch for: 1ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1065-8626; Search for: 1ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0406-7320; Search for: 1; Search for: 1ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7991-6887; Search for: 1ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3677-0923; Search for: ; Search for: ; Search for: ; Search for:
Affiliation
  1. National Research Council Canada. Clean Energy Innovation
FormatText, Article
Subjectlife cycle assessment (LCA); hydrogen production pathways; carbon intensity; hydrogen standards; hydrogen certification scheme
Abstract
Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier that is expected to play a crucial role in helping Canada achieve its net-zero target by 2050. However, reducing the ambiguity in regulatory frameworks is essential to incentivize and facilitate international trade in hydrogen. To this end, regulators must agree on quantification methodologies that consider life cycle boundaries, process descriptions, co-product allocation, conversion constants, and certification units. Several studies have highlighted the importance of life cycle assessment (LCA) as a standardized, relevant method for estimating the carbon footprint associated with hydrogen production and evaluating its environmental sustainability. As such, LCA-based certification schemes could help create a transparent hydrogen market. The aim of this study is to validate the proposed harmonized LCA-based methodology for quantifying hydrogen production’s carbon intensity. This methodology follows a consistent scope and life cycle inventory (LCI) development criteria, alongside a rigorous data quality assessment. The well-to-gate carbon intensities of six hydrogen production pathways are compared, which range from 0.26 to 10.07 kg CO₂ₑ per kg of hydrogen (kg CO₂ₑ/kg H₂), against the hydrogen carbon intensity thresholds established by the Canadian Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit (CHITC). For example, the biomass gasification with carbon capture (CC) pathway demonstrates the lowest carbon intensity, while thermochemical pathways, such as steam methane reforming of natural gas without CC, poses challenges to meeting the maximum CHTIC threshold of 4 kg CO₂ₑ/kg H₂.
Publication date
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC
In
  • Frontiers in Energy (20 May 2025).
NoteErratum published July 10, 2025. DOI: 10.1007/s11708-025-1030-4
"This article has been updated." DOI: 10.1007/s11708-025-1008-2#change-history
LanguageEnglish
In pressYes
Peer reviewedYes
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Record identifier07066cfb-a925-4d77-a5d2-7733b511d84b
Record created2025-08-28
Record modified2025-08-29
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