ANP fast-tracks regulation for low-carbon hydrogen certification
The National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) has accelerated the structuring of rules for the certification of low-carbon hydrogen in Brazil. In a decision approved on October 29, the Agency’s Board included the regulation of the Brazilian Low-Carbon Hydrogen Certification System in the 2025–2026 Regulatory Agenda—a task originally slated for the subsequent cycle. This initiative aims to establish technical and methodological parameters to verify that products meet the criteria defined by legislation, thereby offering greater predictability to investors and economic agents, while supporting the implementation of public policies designed to incentivize the sector.
Certification, authorizations, and REHIDRO advance the consolidation of the regulatory framework
The forthcoming regulation is expected to define the certification methodology and the procedures for verifying the carbon intensity of hydrogen—a crucial step for ensuring transparency and environmental credibility throughout the production chain. The approved timeline schedules the start of work for November 2026, with completion set for October 2027. This includes drafting the regulatory text between June and July, a public consultation period in July and August, and a public hearing in August 2027. Concurrently, the ANP has updated its Manual for Authorization Requests, incorporating provisions from Decree No. 13.096/2026. The manual provides guidance on scenarios where authorizations may be waived, as well as on risk management, existing operational facilities, and access to the Special Incentive Regime for Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production (REHIDRO).
The document also clarifies the simplified registration procedure for producers exempt from authorization—such as facilities dedicated to research, development, and innovation projects, those intended for self-consumption, use as an industrial input, or non-energy applications—in accordance with the conditions stipulated in the decree. This work is part of a process that began in 2022 and intensified following the enactment of Law No. 14.948/2024 and its 2026 implementing decree. Among the Agency’s priorities is the analysis of requirements for initial qualification and co-qualification under the REHIDRO regime—covering aspects such as local content, investments in energy transition, and R&D&I (research, development, and innovation) activities—with subsequent submission of these cases to the Ministry of Mines and Energy.
The preliminary proposal for the 2027–2028 Regulatory Agenda also includes five additional initiatives related to hydrogen, encompassing the authorization of production and handling activities, operational safety, and the refinement of standards for the submission of technical data. Advancing these areas will help establish a clearer and more transparent regulatory environment—a key prerequisite for project development, capital attraction, and the consolidation of a domestic low-carbon hydrogen supply chain.
