Bureau Veritas and Avance Labs pen hydrogen certification deal

December 8, 2023, by Aida Čučuk

Classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) and Avance Labs, an I-REC (international renewable energy certificate) accredited code manager for tracking and certification of attributes associated with hydrogen and hydrogen derivative fuels and products, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of attributes verification and certification.

Under the MoU, Bureau Veritas is expected to act as the exclusive assurance service provider on the piloting phase of the I-REC (HX) hydrogen code.

Avance’s I-REC (HX) product code for hydrogen governs the tracking and certification process for hydrogen and hydrogen derivative fuels and products. It is said to be based on a “robust fact-based, ex-post and technology agnostic system and methodology” to enable global trade in hydrogen and its derivatives.

BV said it provides a unique approach to the certification by combining several novel features, such as interoperability of other I-REC product code certificates (e.g., electricity, carbon removal, methane, etc.) and labels which demonstrate compliance with different regulations globally.

The code also outlines clear governance and quality control requirements that include validation and verification audits throughout the certification process, BV noted.

The classification society also emphasized that a diverse range of energy players are launching projects to develop hydrogen production and use, but the market faces challenges, such as the lack of codes and standards. Thus, there is a need for technical advisory, certification, testing, training and traceability.

To note, Bureau Veritas is actively involved in developing and implementing low-carbon hydrogen certification plans around the world and is said to perform around 300,000 audits each year.

Marcel Hochar, Senior Vice President of Middle East and Central Asia at BV commented: “This strategic partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to fostering a sustainable future and signifies a collaborative effort to set industry benchmarks in international hydrogen trade. By combining our expertise and resources, we aim to accelerate the hydrogen market with rigorous certification processes that are essential for safety, reliability and environmental sustainability.”

Michael Tsang, Chief Carbon and Sustainability Officer at Avance, said: “I am excited about the prospect of combining our expertise in hydrogen tracking and certification with Bureau Veritas’ longstanding reputation for trust, transparency and quality assurance. This collaboration underscores our shared dedication to set new benchmarks for reliability and credibility in the global hydrogen trade, ensuring that industry players can navigate this evolving landscape with confidence and integrity.”