A Blockchain-based Verifiable ESG Credentials Platform for Hydrogen Supply Chain

December 9th, 2021

R&D Focus Areas:
Hydrogen certification schemes, Regulations

Lead Organisation:
CSIRO

Partners:
Not applicable

Status:
Completed

Start date:
August 2021

Completion date:
December 2022

Key contacts:
Dr. Qing Liu – Q.Liu@data61.csiro.au

Funding:
CSIRO Hydrogen Future Science Platforms

Project total cost:
~AUD$320,000

Project summary description:
Hydrogen is expected to become one of the critical next-generation energy resources that can positively contribute to the fight against climate change because of its potential to enable decarbonisation across the industrial sectors.

Since hydrogen can be produced and delivered from different feedstocks and technologies that vary in terms of carbon emission, the degree of cleanness (i.e., degree of carbon emission) of hydrogen at the time of use depends on fossil fuel consumption in the entire supply chain. Certification is viewed as an effective way of proving the cleanliness of a unit of hydrogen, enabling stakeholders within the hydrogen supply chain to share important information for decision making.

Hydrogen is an emerging industry in which stakeholders are beginning to establish global supply chains. While lack of visibility and trust among stakeholders is inherent in global supply chains, even at this early-stage end-users and regulators are demanding for provenance information to independently assess the cleanness of hydrogen. To support organisations in dispelling the distrust and enhance sustainability, we propose to establish a trustworthy data platform for hydrogen accreditation towards sustainability.

This project is to research and develop a blockchain-based data platform for hydrogen ESG certification. In particular, the project was conducted with the following outcomes:

  • Reference architecture and prototype of a blockchain-based verifiable ESG certification platform for hydrogen supply chain.
  • Constructed ESG dashboard for analysis and certification.
  • Established hand-on capability for architecting and building ESG credentials platforms for hydrogen supply chain.
  • Identified the data challenge and proposed solutions for future development.

Related publications and key links:
“Architecture Challenges of a Trustworthy Data Platform for an Emerging Supply Chain: An Experience Report from Hydrogen Certification” – under preparation

“Towards ESG data linkage by Large Language Models”: under preparation

CSIRO ‘Future Science Platforms: Hydrogen Energy Systems’: A blockchain-based verifiable ESG credentials platform for hydrogen supply chain – Hydrogen Energy Systems (csiro.au)

Higher degree studies supported:
Not applicable

 

Reviewed: October 2023