Avance Labs (“Avance”) has successfully completed three pilot projects showcasing the Product Code for Hydrogen and Hydrogen derivative fuels and products, I-TRACK(HX), developed by Avance based on the I-TRACK Foundation’s International Attribute Tracking Standard.
The three projects are water electrolysis projects located in the United Arab Emirates. Chief among them is a project owned by EMSTEEL, the UAE’s largest steel manufacturer, and Masdar, an international renewable energy company, where the certified renewable hydrogen is used as an emissions-reducing agent in steel manufacture.
The EMSTEEL pilot project accomplished three industry firsts:
- it was the first known global application of the ISO/TC 19870:2023 methodology (the ISO technical specification on methodologies for determining the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production, conditioning, and transport of hydrogen), both market-based and location-based sub-methodologies, contributing to the standardization of lifecycle assessment methodologies,
- it was the first to stack redeemed I-REC(E) with an I-TRACK certificate for Hydrogen and Hydrogen derivative fuels and products (or I-TRACK(HX)) to report Scope 2 emissions, demonstrating the interoperability of different product codes, and
- it was the first to apply a “net-zero benchmark” value on the produced hydrogen, determining where a product sits on the industry-wide “decarbonization scale”.
The certification data was validated by Bureau Veritas in its capacity as an Independent Assurance Provider.
These first pilots proved the applicability of I-TRACK(HX) and the relevance it has within the global voluntary and compliance reporting frameworks. Work is ongoing to have a full-market release of I-TRACK(HX) later this year and expand coverage for other low-emissions products shortly thereafter.
For interest in the development of I-TRACK(HX), you can reach out to Avance via email at hyrogencode@avance.energy or the I-TRACK Foundation at secretariat@trackingstandard.org