ISO 19870-1:2026
2026-04
ISO 19870-1:2026
What is ISO 19870-1?
ISO 19870-1 specifies a methodology for quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with hydrogen production, from raw material extraction up to the production gate.
It is part of the ISO 19870 series, which applies carbon footprint and life cycle assessment (LCA) principles to the hydrogen supply chain. This first part focuses specifically on emissions generated during hydrogen production, regardless of the production pathway used.
The standard builds on ISO 14067 and ISO 14044 to provide a consistent and internationally recognized framework for calculating the carbon footprint of hydrogen.
Why is ISO 19870-1 important?
Hydrogen is a key enabler of decarbonization, but its environmental impact varies significantly depending on how it is produced. Identical hydrogen molecules can have very different GHG emissions profiles.
ISO 19870-1 addresses this challenge by providing a robust and harmonized methodology to quantify emissions. This helps avoid miscounting and double counting, supports transparency and enables the development of credible low-carbon hydrogen markets.
By standardizing how emissions are measured, the standard supports policy frameworks, certification schemes and investment decisions aligned with global climate goals such as the Paris Agreement.
Benefits
- Enables consistent and comparable calculation of hydrogen production emissions
- Supports transparency and credibility in low-carbon hydrogen markets
- Helps avoid double counting of emissions across the supply chain
- Aligns hydrogen accounting with internationally recognized LCA and carbon footprint standards
- Supports regulatory compliance and reporting requirements
FAQ
ISO 19870 refers to the full series of standards covering greenhouse gas emissions across the hydrogen supply chain. ISO 19870-1 is the first part of this series and focuses specifically on emissions associated with hydrogen production, from raw material extraction up to the production gate. Other parts address downstream stages such as transport, storage and conversion.
A Life Cycle Assessment is a structured method used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product or system across its entire lifecycle. This includes stages such as raw material extraction, production, use and end of life. In the context of hydrogen, LCA helps quantify emissions at each stage of the supply chain.
A Carbon Footprint of a Product represents the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product throughout its lifecycle. It is typically expressed in CO₂ equivalents and is calculated using LCA principles, as defined in ISO 14067.
A full CFP covers emissions across the entire lifecycle of a product, from raw material extraction to end of life. A partial CFP only considers selected stages of the lifecycle. In ISO 19870-1, the focus is on a partial CFP, limited to emissions up to the hydrogen production gate.
General information
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Status: PublishedPublication date: 2026-04Stage: International Standard published [60.60]
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Edition: 1Number of pages: 126
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Technical Committee :ISO/TC 197/SC 1
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Life cycle
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Previously
PublishedISO/TS 19870:2023
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Now
