The Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI)
A Practical Guide for Producers: Navigating the Path to Certified Green Hydrogen
Source: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), April 2025
≤ 2.0 kg CO₂eq / kg H₂
Average emissions over a 12-month evaluation cycle, measured from “well-to-gate”.
What’s IN the Calculation (MUST COUNT)
Water Supply & Treatment:
Upstream emissions of water supply + on-site purification.
Electricity:
Any grid power used (grossed up for losses) + on-site non-RE power (DG sets).
Fuel & Steam:
Diesel for vehicles, fuel for heaters/boilers.
Input Materials:
Upstream “cradle-to-gate” emissions of KOH, catalysts, membranes, oils, etc.
On-site Process:
All emissions from electrolysis, purification, compression, and on-site storage.
What’s OUT of the Calculation (MUST EXCLUDE)
Embodied Carbon of RE:
Manufacturing & construction of solar panels/wind turbines.
Plant Construction:
Embodied carbon of the electrolyser, steel, cement.
Employee Commuting & Business Travel.
Downstream Transport:
Shipping H₂ from your plant to the customer.
Plant Decommissioning.
The GHG Calculation Formula – The Rulebook
E_total
Upstream & Direct Emissions
Co-Product Credit
1. E_Feedstock 💧
Upstream footprint of water supply.
2. E_Electricity ⚠️
THE BIGGEST RISK! (kWh from Grid * CEA Factor) / (1 – T&D Losses) + (Diesel Litres * IPCC Factor).
3. E_Fuel ⛽
Direct fuel use (vehicles, heaters).
4. E_InputMaterials ⚗️
Cradle-to-gate footprint of all consumables (KOH, oils, etc.).
5. E_Co-product (Deduction) ❌
CRITICAL RULE: No emission credit can be claimed for co-products without calorific value. This means ZERO deduction for Oxygen.
The 3 Golden Rules of Compliance
Prove Your Power
- ✓ MUST HAVE: Signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with specific RE plants.
- ✓ MUST ACCOUNT FOR: T&D Losses. You must generate more RE than you consume.
- ✗ NOT ALLOWED: Buying unbundled RECs or Carbon Credits to offset grid power.
Sweat the Big Stuff
- Individual Source Limit: You can ignore a source if it’s < 1% of the 2.0 kg threshold (i.e., < 0.02 kg CO₂eq).
- Collective Limit: The total of all ignored sources cannot exceed 5% of the threshold (i.e., < 0.10 kg CO₂eq).
You Are Responsible
The producer is 100% responsible for collecting all data, contracts, and evidence (like Load Dispatch Certificates).
All data must be verified by a BEE-accredited ACV Agency.
The Certification Journey – From Design to Delivery
Concept Certificate
Voluntary. Certifies that your plant design meets the GHCI standard.
Facility-Level Certificate
Mandatory. Certifies your built facility can produce Green Hydrogen.
Provisional Certificate
Voluntary. Auto-generated monthly certificate based on data.
Annual Audit
Mandatory. Engage an ACV Agency by March 31st.
Final Application
Submit verified report to the GHCI Portal by June 30th.
Final Certificate
Mandatory. Issued by July 31st after review.
Outcome & Consequences
The Final Green Certificate
- Unique ID for every 100 kg of H₂.
- States the final Emission Intensity ($kg$ CO₂eq/$kg$ H₂).
- Acts as a Guarantee of Origin (GO).
- Is transferable and can be used for the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).
Consequences of Non-Compliance
- If final verified emissions are > 2.0 kg, NO hydrogen from that year can be certified as Green.
- 1st Occurrence: Provisional certificates are withdrawn.
- 2nd Occurrence (within 3 years): Banned from applying for provisional certificates for the next 1-year cycle.
- 3rd+ Occurrence: MNRE may bar the applicant for a specific period.
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