Platts proposes to launch UK hydrogen assessments

S&P Global Platts is proposing to assess the cost of hydrogen production in the UK.

Platts would consider the daily cost of hydrogen production via three pathways: Autothermal reforming with carbon capture (ATR w CCS), proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis and alkaline electrolysis.

The proposed UK hydrogen assessments would consider the feedstock costs alone, as well as a second set of assessments that would include assumptions for capital expenses (capex).

Assessments would be made in GBP/kg and GBP/KWh.

The assumptions for ATR w CCS costs would be based on industry research, including an H-Vision reported titled "Blue hydrogen as accelerator and pioneer for energy transition in the industry", published in 2019.

Electrolysis assumptions would be based on the existing Platts methodology, and would incorporate the same changes as currently proposed in a separate methodology update.

Daily inputs would include the month-ahead National Balancing Point assessment; the month-ahead UK GTMA base and peak power assessments, a UK water price, and the quarterly EC carbon auction spot average as a proxy for UK carbon costs.

The assessments and unit of measurements would be as follows:

Hydrogen UK ATR w CCS (GBP/Kg)

Hydrogen UK ATR w CCS (Incl. capex) (GBP/Kg)

Hydrogen UK ATR w CCS (GBP/KWh)

Hydrogen UK ATR w CCS (Incl. capex) (GBP/KWh)

Hydrogen UK PEM Electrolysis (GBP/Kg)

Hydrogen UK PEM Electrolysis (incl capex) (GBP/Kg)

Hydrogen UK PEM Electrolysis (GBP/KWh)

Hydrogen UK PEM Electrolysis (incl capex) (GBP/KWh)

Hydrogen UK Alkaline Electrolysis (GBP/Kg)

Hydrogen UK Alkaline Electrolysis (incl capex) (GBP/Kg)

Hydrogen UK Alkaline Electrolysis (GBP/KWh)

Hydrogen UK Alkaline Electrolysis (incl capex) (GBP/KWh)

The proposed changes would take effect April 1, 2021.

Please send any comments by March 12 to hydrogenassessments@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing.

Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.