DIGITAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING HYDROGEN AND HYDROGEN-DERIVED SUPPLY CHAINS
Systems and methods are disclosed for recording, validating, and using digitally signed provenance data associated with the production, delivery, transformation, reconversion, and withdrawal of hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carriers, and hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuels. Supply-chain events occurring at certified inlets, certified outlets, transfer interfaces, production facilities, conversion facilities, reconversion facilities, and transport systems may generate data elements that include measurements, quantities, timestamps, source identifiers, energy source information, carbon-intensity information, and participant credentials. These data elements may be authenticated and stored in a digital ledger that supports monitoring, reporting, and verification functions. Validated ledger entries may be used to determine eligibility for settlement actions or entitlements, including tax credits, subsidies, or incentive payments. Settlement logic, smart contracts, or automated rules may allocate or transfer credits, payments, or digital instruments among credentialed participants. The disclosed technology supports traceability, compliance, and financial settlement across supply chains for hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carriers, and hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuels.
1 . A method for determining and certifying entitlement to an energy tax credit, subsidy, or incentive payment based on digitally recorded provenance data representing the delivery, transformation, or withdrawal of hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carriers, and/or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuels to, through, or from a supply chain, the method comprising:
accessing a digital ledger containing one or more digitally signed data elements representing supply-chain events associated with hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carriers, and/or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuels;
verifying the presence of at least one data element identifying an inlet or outlet interface, including any certified valve, port, meter, or transfer interface, through which a quantity of said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, and/or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel was injected into or withdrawn from a delivery line, transport system, or other supply-chain pathway;
verifying the presence of at least one data element identifying at least one credentialed participant associated with said supply-chain event, including any producer, converter, reconverter, transporter, service provider, off-taker, energy provider, raw material supplier, naturally occurring hydrogen extractor, right-of-way owner or operator, financier, certifier, market participant, or other authorized party;
verifying the presence of at least one data element representing a measured or metered quantity of said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, and/or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel associated with said inlet or outlet interface;
associating said quantity with said at least one credentialed participant based on credentialed identity data stored in said digital ledger; and
determining and/or executing a settlement action or entitlement for said credentialed participant based on said association.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a delivery line, transport system, or other transfer pathway for hydrogen, a hydrogen-containing energy carrier, and/or a hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel is in fluid communication with a source or off-taker of hydrogen, a hydrogen-containing energy carrier, and/or a hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data element identifying the source or off-taker of hydrogen, a hydrogen-containing energy carrier, and/or a hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel includes metadata comprising one or more of a date stamp, a time stamp, or a location stamp associated with said data element.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said digitally recorded provenance data includes one or more data elements identifying an energy source and associated energy-attribution characteristics used to produce, convert, or reconvert said hydrogen or hydrogen-containing energy carrier, or to produce said hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel, said characteristics including one or more of source type, carbon-capture percentage, carbon-intensity score, incrementality, deliverability, or temporal matching, including timestamped linkage to renewable energy generation.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said digitally recorded provenance data includes a data element identifying a deliverability zone, transmission zone, balancing authority, or other geographic correlation region applicable to an energy source used to produce or convert said hydrogen or hydrogen-containing energy carrier, or to produce said hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said digitally recorded provenance data includes a data element identifying one or more characteristics of said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier source, or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel, the characteristics comprising at least one of:
a measured or metered quantity of hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel;
a production or conversion method used to produce said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel;
a reconversion method used to recover hydrogen from said hydrogen-containing energy carrier;
an energy source associated with said production, conversion, or reconversion method;
a carbon-intensity value or carbon-capture percentage associated with said production, conversion, or reconversion method; or
a measured purity or quality attribute of said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said digitally recorded provenance data includes a data element indicating whether the energy source associated with said hydrogen production, conversion, or reconversion of said hydrogen or hydrogen-containing energy carrier, or with the production of said hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel, satisfies a regulatory or contractual incrementality criterion.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each data element recorded in said digital ledger is submitted by a credentialed participant or authorized data-submission system authenticated via a cryptographic identity, digital certificate, or other credentialing protocol, and further includes a cryptographic signature or digital attestation verifying the origin and integrity of said data element.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said settlement action or entitlement is automatically executed in response to the association of said quantity with said credentialed participant.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said digital ledger comprises a public blockchain, a permissioned blockchain, a private blockchain, or another distributed ledger technology.
11 . A method for determining and executing settlement actions or entitlement based on digitally recorded provenance data representing the delivery, transformation, or withdrawal of hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carriers, and/or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuels to, through, or from a supply chain, the method comprising:
accessing a digital ledger containing one or more digitally signed data elements representing supply-chain events associated with hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carriers, and/or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuels;
verifying the presence of at least one data element identifying an inlet or outlet interface, including any certified valve, port, meter, or transfer interface, through which a quantity of said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, and/or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel was injected into or withdrawn from a delivery line, transport system, or other supply-chain pathway;
verifying the presence of at least one data element identifying at least one credentialed participant associated with said supply-chain event, including any producer, converter, reconverter, transporter, service provider, off-taker, energy provider, raw material supplier, naturally occurring hydrogen extractor, right-of-way owner or operator, financier, certifier, market participant, or other authorized party;
verifying the presence of at least one data element representing a measured or metered quantity of said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, and/or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel associated with said inlet or outlet interface;
associating said quantity with said at least one credentialed participant based on credentialed identity data stored in said digital ledger; and
determining and/or executing a settlement action or entitlement for said credentialed participant based on said association.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a delivery line, transport system, or other transfer pathway for hydrogen, a hydrogen-containing energy carrier, and/or a hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel is in fluid communication with a source or off-taker of hydrogen, a hydrogen-containing energy carrier, and/or a hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the data element identifying the source or off-taker of hydrogen, a hydrogen-containing energy carrier, and/or a hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel includes metadata comprising one or more of a date stamp, a time stamp, or a location stamp associated with said data element.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said digitally recorded provenance data includes a data element identifying one or more characteristics of said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel, said characteristics comprising at least one of:
a measured or metered quantity of said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel;
a production method used to produce said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel;
a conversion method used to convert said hydrogen or hydrogen-containing energy carrier;
a reconversion method used to recover hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing energy carrier;
an energy source associated with said production, conversion, or reconversion method;
a carbon-intensity value or carbon-capture percentage associated with said production, conversion, or reconversion method; or
a measured purity or quality attribute of said hydrogen, hydrogen-containing energy carrier, or hydrogen-enabled synthetic fuel.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each data element recorded in said digital ledger is submitted by a credentialed participant or authorized data-submission system authenticated via a cryptographic identity, digital certificate, or other credentialing protocol, and further includes a cryptographic signature or digital attestation verifying the origin and integrity of said data element.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said settlement action or entitlement is automatically executed in response to the association of said quantity with said credentialed participant.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said digital ledger comprises a public blockchain, a permissioned blockchain, a private blockchain, or another distributed ledger technology.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said settlement action is performed in accordance with a settlement rule, smart contract, tariff schedule, or payment protocol stored in said digital ledger and triggered by said association.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said settlement action comprises allocating a settlement amount among multiple credentialed participants based on said digitally recorded provenance data.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said settlement action comprises transferring a digital credit, token, currency amount, or other transferable digital instrument to said credentialed participant.