As a final step in the preparatory study of FCH-PEFCRs, the report on the screening Life Cycle Assessment of three hydrogen technologies—including electrochemical devices, compressed hydrogen tanks, and fuel cells— was delivered this Spring. The assessment highlights key environmental hotspots, data challenges, and next steps for refining methods and data quality in upcoming project phases.
Welcome to HyPEF! We will deliver and test the FIRST EVER Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs) for fuel cells and hydrogen (FCH) products.
HyPEF Presents Screening LCA Results for Three Hydrogen Technologies
As part of the ongoing work in HyPEF, ENEA has presented the main findings from the recent report (D2.3), which focuses on the screening Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of three representative hydrogen products selceted in the project’s previous phases. The study examined:
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Electrochemical devices for hydrogen production (combining alkaline, PEM, and solid oxide electrolysis technologies),
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Type IV compressed hydrogen tanks (based on a commercial product), and
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Hydrogen fuel cells for electricity production (covering both stationary and mobility applications).
Key environmental hotspots were identified, such as water and platinum/steel use in electrolyser manufacturing, and market-driven resource pressures for fuel cells. The assessment also noted important data limitations—especially in the availability of carbon fibre data for hydrogen tanks—and highlighted the reliance on proxy and default datasets.
Feedback from the review panel emphasised the need to include capital goods and infrastructure in future assessments, to clarify and standardise system boundaries, and to refine the definition of functional units, especially for hydrogen storage solutions. Although an official update of D2.3 is not foreseen, ENEA and project partners have committed to address all key comments in upcoming project outputs, accounting for improved data quality, harmonisation of system boundaries, and integration of capital goods and end-of-life modelling in future analyses.
