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

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 CO_2e per kg of hydrogen (kg CO_2e/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 CO_2e/kg H₂.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

life cycle assessment (LCA) / hydrogen production pathways / carbon intensity / hydrogen standards / hydrogen certification scheme

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The Author(s), corrected publication. This article is published with open access at link.springer.com and journal.hep. com.cn