Clean Hydrogen 45V Carbon Intensity Calculator

Translate metered electricity, emission factors, and supplemental process emissions into a Section 45V-compliant carbon intensity expressed in both kg CO₂e per kilogram of hydrogen and grams CO₂e per megajoule.

Total metered electricity used for hydrogen production over the reporting window.
Marginal or contract-specific emission factor applied to electricity supply.
Net kilograms of saleable hydrogen delivered during the same window.
Sum of non-electricity emissions such as feedstock, venting, or upstream transport. Defaults to 0 when blank.
Use 120 MJ/kg for gaseous hydrogen unless lab data suggests otherwise. Defaults to 120 MJ/kg when blank.

Policy screening aid. Validate results with third-party lifecycle analyses before filing for Section 45V incentives or public disclosures.

Examples

  • 4,200 MWh electricity, 280 kg CO₂e/MWh, 65,000 kg hydrogen, 1,800 kg other emissions ⇒ Total emissions 1,174,800.00 kg CO₂e | Carbon intensity 18.12 kg CO₂e/kg H₂ (150.9 g CO₂e/MJ) | Meets the $1.00/kg tier (≤150 g CO₂e/MJ but >75 g).
  • 3,600 MWh electricity, 40 kg CO₂e/MWh, 70,000 kg hydrogen, no other emissions ⇒ Total emissions 144,000.00 kg CO₂e | Carbon intensity 2.06 kg CO₂e/kg H₂ (17.1 g CO₂e/MJ) | Meets the $0.60/kg tier (≤45 g CO₂e/MJ).

FAQ

How should I choose the grid emission factor?

Use the marginal or contract-specific emission rate that reflects the electricity actually serving the electrolyser. Hourly matched renewables can be modelled with near-zero factors if backed by verifiable certificates.

Can I include upstream natural gas reforming emissions?

Yes. Add reformer feedstock or upstream transport emissions to the optional process emissions field to ensure the calculator reports the full lifecycle intensity.

What happens if my lower heating value differs from 120 MJ/kg?

Override the default with lab-certified data for liquid hydrogen or carrier-adjusted delivery. The calculator rescales the grams-per-megajoule metric automatically.

Additional Information

  • Result unit: kg CO₂e total, kg CO₂e per kg H₂, and g CO₂e per MJ of hydrogen lower heating value.
  • When left blank, other process emissions default to zero and the lower heating value defaults to 120 MJ/kg, consistent with Section 45V guidance for gaseous hydrogen.
  • Inputs assume emissions are already adjusted for renewable energy certificates or book-and-claim mechanisms permitted under the rule.

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