The pledge is part of a “steadfast commitment” to transition to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 that includes a drastic increase in renewables.
Following the group’s meeting at Sapporo, Japan, on 15 and 16 April, the communiqué highlighted the role of hydrogen and its derivatives such as ammonia in hard-to-abate sectors, along with its potential to make use of excess renewable energy.
It also noted that some countries are exploring using hydrogen and its derivatives in the power sector to work towards zero-emission thermal power generation.
The G7 intends to take action to reduce the cost gap between hydrogen and fossil fuels, including by boosting research, development and demonstration (RD&D) and the enabling infrastructure.
In the communiqué, the group supported efforts to develop “rule-based, transparent global market and supply chains” based on reliable international standards and certification schemes, including for liquefied hydrogen and liquid organic hydrogen carriers.
It promised to promote collaboration between supplier and consumer countries to reduce costs while noting that the new industry should meet environmental and social standards “in particular with regard to water use conflict”.
The communiqué committed the seven governments to building an enabling environment to encourage the safe use of hydrogen with “relevant regulations, safety codes and standards”. This will accelerate hydrogen deployment and lead to emission reductions, it said.
It called for a calculation methodology for GHG emissions in hydrogen production and a “mutual recognition mechanism for carbon intensity-based tradability, transparency, trustworthiness and sustainability”.
The group said that national strategies to grow the hydrogen industry may draw on the continued use of gas but said that this should be done “in a manner consistent with our climate objectives and without creating lock-in effects”.
