Building Carbon Integrity and International Market Credibility
Certification is a foundational pillar of a competitive hydrogen economy. As hydrogen transitions from pilot scale deployment to internationally traded commodity status, market access increasingly depends on verifiable carbon intensity, traceability, and compliance with evolving sustainability standards.
The COMESA Centre of Excellence on Green Hydrogen will establish a Regional Hydrogen Certification and Guarantees of Origin System to ensure that hydrogen produced within Member States is transparent, traceable, and internationally credible. Hosted within the regulatory coordination framework of Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa, the system will provide harmonized carbon accounting methodologies and interoperable certification procedures across the region.
Strategic Importance of Certification
Hydrogen markets are being shaped by carbon regulation and sustainability verification. Importing jurisdictions increasingly require documented proof of lifecycle emissions performance, renewable electricity sourcing, and traceability of production inputs. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms, corporate decarbonization mandates, and voluntary carbon disclosure regimes are reinforcing the need for standardized certification systems.
Without a harmonized regional certification architecture:
- Producers risk exclusion from premium export markets
• Carbon intensity claims lack verification credibility
• Investors face increased regulatory uncertainty
• Cross border value chains become fragmented
Certification is therefore not an administrative function. It is a strategic market access instrument that determines pricing, financing conditions, and long term trade relationships.
Core Architecture of the Regional Certification System
The COMESA Hydrogen Certification and Guarantees of Origin System will be built on four integrated components.
Carbon Intensity Methodology
A standardized regional methodology will define lifecycle emissions accounting for hydrogen production. This will include renewable electricity sourcing, grid emission factors, water treatment and desalination inputs, electrolyzer efficiency, storage losses, and transport emissions.
The methodology will ensure consistency across Member States and prevent regulatory arbitrage. By harmonizing carbon accounting rules, the system enables comparability and regional integration.
Digital Registry and Traceability Platform
A secure digital registry will record hydrogen production volumes, carbon intensity metrics, facility accreditation status, and issuance of Guarantees of Origin certificates. Each certified batch of hydrogen will be traceable from production facility to end use.
The digital platform will support:
- Real time data recording
• Cross border certificate recognition
• Prevention of double counting
• Integration with customs and export documentation systems
Advanced digital verification mechanisms may be incorporated to enhance integrity and auditability.
Independent Verification and Accreditation
To ensure credibility, the system will include independent verification procedures. Accredited auditors will validate production data, carbon intensity calculations, and compliance with established standards.
Verification protocols will include:
- Periodic audits of production facilities
• Monitoring of renewable electricity sourcing
• Review of operational data and emissions factors
• Certification issuance controls
Independent oversight enhances international recognition and strengthens investor confidence.
International Alignment and Interoperability
The regional certification framework will be designed for compatibility with emerging global hydrogen standards and sustainability requirements. Alignment with major importing jurisdictions and international carbon accounting principles will ensure export readiness and reduce compliance risk.
Interoperability with other certification systems will be pursued to enable recognition across trade corridors and facilitate participation in international hydrogen markets.
Governance and Institutional Anchoring
The certification system will operate under the regional regulatory coordination mandate of Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa.
Governance mechanisms will include:
- A regional oversight committee
• Technical advisory groups for methodology development
• National regulatory focal points
• Data governance and compliance units
Embedding certification within RAERESA ensures that hydrogen carbon accounting is integrated with broader regional energy regulation and cross border market harmonization processes.
Integration with Other Programmatic Pillars
Certification is structurally linked to all other pillars of the Centre.
Regulatory harmonization provides the legal framework for standardized carbon accounting and reporting. Demonstration Hydrogen Zones will serve as early operational testing grounds for certification protocols and registry systems. The Investment and Project Preparation Facility will rely on certification data to strengthen environmental compliance and bankability. Capacity development programs will train auditors, regulators, and industry participants in certification procedures and carbon reporting.
Through this integrated approach, certification becomes embedded within the entire hydrogen ecosystem rather than functioning as a parallel compliance layer.
Expected Outcomes
The Regional Hydrogen Certification and Guarantees of Origin System will deliver:
- Operational regional certification platform
• Standardized carbon intensity reporting across Member States
• Verified and tradeable Guarantees of Origin certificates
• Enhanced investor confidence and reduced regulatory risk
• Strengthened export positioning in global hydrogen trade corridors
By institutionalizing carbon integrity and traceability, the certification system transforms hydrogen produced in the COMESA region into a verified low carbon commodity that meets international market requirements.
Strategic Impact
Certification enables differentiation in increasingly competitive hydrogen markets. Producers that can demonstrate verified low lifecycle emissions will access premium pricing, concessional finance, and long term offtake agreements.
For the COMESA region, a harmonized certification architecture ensures that market credibility is built collectively rather than fragmented at national level. It reinforces regional integration, strengthens negotiating power in global trade discussions, and positions the Centre as a credible governance and compliance platform.
Under the leadership of Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa, certification becomes a structural pillar of regional hydrogen competitiveness, linking regulatory integrity with industrial opportunity.
