The industry is steadily more concerned about the lack of standardised rules and recognition across different markets. The deployment of hydrogen is advancing rapidly in industrial clusters, heavy transport and large-scale projects. However, gaps remain in the certification of low-carbon and renewable hydrogen, in safety standards and in cross-border guarantees of origin. The next few years will be challenging for many organisations, with key factors including regulatory compliance, attracting investor confidence, delivering projects that meet ESG frameworks and achieving independence from volatile fossil fuel markets. At the same time, the question for decision-makers is how to position hydrogen projects securely so that they are both bankable and globally competitive.
How The Industry Is Adapting to Regulation
Simply producing hydrogen will not be sufficient in the coming years. For the market to grow, it must be demonstrated that hydrogen meets regulatory requirements at every stage, from production to end use. This includes lifecycle carbon accounting, recognised certification of origin and safety compliance across infrastructure such as pipelines, storage terminals and refuelling facilities. Data monitoring and verification are now closely tied to market access and eligibility for incentives.
In many organisations, hidden compliance risks, whether in emission thresholds, blending practices or safety procedures, continue to slow progress. Modern certification frameworks aim to make these transparent, enabling companies to participate in new forms of trading hydrogen attributes such as carbon intensity or sustainability guarantees. With regulation as the foundation, new market models are emerging, including cross-border hydrogen supply chains built on recognised certification. Companies are no longer only producers or consumers; they are integrated participants within a regulated value chain.
We are now seeing integration between hydrogen regulatory frameworks and the global marketplace, but with significant variation in rules and certification standards across countries. Alignment and standardisation remain among the greatest challenges for scaling hydrogen. At the same time, new policy tools such as binding national targets, financial incentives and certification-based trading schemes are driving momentum, with the potential to unlock large-scale investment and double-digit growth opportunities.
Currently, hydrogen is traded under a combination of voluntary and mandatory schemes. To access capital markets and international buyers, projects must demonstrate compliance with guarantees of origin, lifecycle emissions criteria and strict safety codes. The future of hydrogen trade will depend largely on whether certification systems can be recognised across borders, reducing legal bottlenecks and ensuring that hydrogen flows as smoothly as other commodities. The clarity of these frameworks will not only reduce project delays but also provide greater predictability for investors, policymakers and technology providers.
Hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia and methanol are also entering the compliance landscape, requiring clear definitions and aligned certification to support their role in global markets. These developments highlight the need for robust regulatory frameworks that can evolve as the hydrogen economy expands.
