Scoping Paper on PtX.Sustainability Dimensions and Concerns

Power-to-X, the conversion of renewable electricity into molecules that can be used as fossil-free fuels and feedstocks in industry and transport, is an indispensable technology for a successful transition towards a climate-neutral, defossilised economy and society. However, this groundbreaking transformation must be a ‘just transition’ that contributes to economic prosperity, social equity and environmental integrity.

Towards a conceptual framework for standards and certification

This scoping paper on PtX sustainability aims to

• contribute to the international debate on regulatory frameworks for hydrogen and its derivatives (e.g. ammonia, e-jetfuel, etc.)
• identify the key sustainability dimensions and concerns;
• outline a comprehensive and coherent framework for sustainability assessments;
• provide a solid basis for the implementation of sustainability standards and certification schemes.

The proposed conceptual framework for PtX sustainability presented in this paper

• distinguishes four sustainability dimensions: E-nvironmental, E-conomic, S-ocial and G-overnance;
• sorts and groups the multitude of sustainability concerns into 16 distinct clusters.