Hydrogen: gas reforming pathway

Australian producers can calculate the emissions intensity and create Product Guarantee of Origin (PGO) certificates for making batches of hydrogen using gas reforming.

To do this, you’ll need to:

• identify and understand hydrogen emissions sources
• understand co-products and losses
• provide your quantity information.

We’re developing calculators that will help you calculate emissions intensity using the supplied quantity information.

Measuring hydrogen for certificates

For hydrogen, the functional unit is 1 kg. Each PGO certificate represents 1 kg of hydrogen.

We only issue certificates for the whole kilogram amount. For example, if a batch contains 10.9 kg, we will only issue 10 certificates.

Producers may define separate batches where production inputs differ.

Production modules and emission sources

Minimum production module

All hydrogen produced this pathway must include the minimum production module:

• gas reforming.

This is the minimum module defined as the process of chemically converting hydrocarbon feedstocks into hydrogen by thermal reforming processes using steam, oxygen or both as an oxidising agent. It must be included in every eligible batch.

Optional production modules

Include optional modules if the relevant processes exist at your facility. For gas reforming, there are 2 optional modules:

• intermediate storage tank for hydrogen
• gas conditioning.

Production emission sources

Depending on how hydrogen is produced, emissions may need to be accounted for from different sources. Only emissions sources that occur for the batch need to be reported.

Emission sources for hydrogen production via gas reforming may include:

• electricity supply and use
• fuel supply and combustion
• feedstock supply
• steam supply 
• synthetic gas use 
• oxygen supply and use
• carbon containing feedstock use.

Delivery modules and emission sources

Hydrogen produced via gas reforming may include delivery modules, each with their own associated emission sources.

Delivery related losses

Losses may occur during the delivery stage of the hydrogen’s lifecycle. These losses can result from:

• leakage
• venting
• self-consumption within delivery equipment
• storage inefficiencies.

Where delivery modules apply:

• the amount of hydrogen that reaches the delivery gate must account for any losses
• losses are calculated using measured inputs and outputs, or approved default loss rates (where applicable).

No losses are applied if hydrogen moves directly from the production gate (the point where hydrogen is ready for delivery) to the delivery gate without using a delivery module.

Attributes shown on certificates

As well as the attributes listed on PGO certificates, certificates for hydrogen produced via gas reforming include the:

• type and quantity of feedstocks 
• the pressure in kilopascals
• the purity as a percentage of the total volume.