US Treasury's Final Guidance Advances Clean Hydrogen Production in United States
Key Ideas
  • The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued final guidance for the Section 45V Hydrogen Production Tax Credit as part of the Inflation Reduction Act to promote clean hydrogen production.
  • The guidance aims to bridge the cost gap between conventional and low-emission hydrogen production methods, encouraging decarbonization across sectors like marine shipping, steel, and aviation.
  • Criteria include low upstream methane emissions for natural gas-based hydrogen access to tax credits and guidance on electrolytic hydrogen to ensure accuracy and transparency in emissions monitoring.
  • Stricter guardrails are expected for clean electricity use in hydrogen production, with the industry pushing for implementation that allows growth while mitigating indirect emissions.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury released final guidance for the Section 45V Hydrogen Production Tax Credit (PTC) to boost domestic clean hydrogen production in the United States. The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) commended the move as an important step in advancing clean hydrogen policy. While hydrogen is crucial for various sectors of the economy, its production needs to be decarbonized to reduce emissions. The guidance sets criteria for accessing tax credits, including demonstrating low upstream methane emissions for natural gas-based hydrogen. Additionally, the guidance addresses electrolytic hydrogen, intending to ensure accuracy and transparency in emissions monitoring. The industry advocates for stricter guardrails on clean electricity use for hydrogen production to meet emission reduction goals. The 45V PTC is designed to incentivize clean hydrogen production by narrowing the cost gap between conventional and low-emission methods. Various production methods, such as electrolysis and carbon-based processes with carbon capture, can qualify for the tax credits. The Treasury's guidance reflects a tiered approach, offering more incentives for progressively cleaner hydrogen. The industry aims to grow while reducing emissions by leveraging the 45V PTC effectively. By monitoring implementation closely, stakeholders seek to ensure the tax credit achieves its intended outcomes of advancing clean hydrogen production and mitigating emissions.
ADVANCEH2

Our vision is to be the world's leading online platform for advancing the use of hydrogen as a critical piece needed to deliver net-zero initiatives and the promise of a clean H2 energy future.

© 2025 AdvanceH2, LLC. All rights reserved.