Green fuel certification body H2C has signed a partnership agreement with Lloyd’s Register (LR), designed to enable greater confidence in the allocation of emissions claims across complex maritime value chains, and accelerate investment in clean fuels such as biofuels, e-fuels and green hydrogen derivatives.
Under this collaboration, LR will provide assurance that the claims rights embedded in Green Premium Certificates [GPCs] are valid, exclusive and appropriately priced, helping GPC buyers demonstrate compliance under schemes such as FuelEU Maritime, the IMO’s Lifecycle Assessment Guidelines and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
The H2C registry enables the environmental attributes of low-carbon fuels to be contractually separated from the fuel molecules themselves, so that many downstream actors, such as shipowners, cargo operators and retail brands, can contribute to green fuel financing through the purchase of unbundled certificates. Through a deep experience of compliance submissions, LR provides price discovery services to guide certificate issuance on the H2C market. This model addresses a core barrier to transition: the inability of high-volume, low-margin shipping companies to absorb green premium costs at the point of fuel use.
Peter Ellen, CEO H2C, said: “Our collaboration with Lloyd’s Register ensures that certificates represent defensible, auditable claims for emissions reporting. More importantly, this assurance gives the market confidence to fund premiums and accelerate deployment. It is about creating the economic conditions for transition, so that producers can produce, shipping companies manage compliance costs and green shipping services provide value added revenue.”
The majority of low carbon fuel producers require forward purchasing commitments to underpin financing of their production facilities, whereas legacy fuels thrive in a spot market. In recognition of this H2C provides standard methods for producers to secure verified, advance certificate orders to support bankable production projects.
Nick Gross, LR Global Containerships Segment Director, added: “Shipping must decarbonise, but it cannot do so alone. By assuring the provenance and claims integrity of certificates, LR helps buyers across the supply chain fund and verify their contribution, without relying on offsetting or unverified market instruments.”
This collaboration reinforces H2C’s commitment to scaling a globally interoperable certificate market that activates early-stage investment and supports compliance with rapidly evolving regulations. The joint solution is intended to offer a critical market infrastructure layer, aligning economic incentives, regulatory assurance and environmental integrity.
