DUH-IT: Digital verification of the hydrogen economy

The hydrogen economy faces the challenge of reliably verifying the origin and sustainability of green hydrogen. In the DUH-IT project, the Fraunhofer institute for Material Flow and Logistics is working with H2-Trust to develop an open-source solution based on blockchain that digitizes verification processes along the supply chain, checks RFNBO requirements of RED III, and generates a digital product passport. In addition, a wide range of training opportunities strengthens companies in terms of qualification and implementation.

Green hydrogen is a central component of the energy transition and decarbonization goals in Germany. The national strategy focuses on a hybrid supply: production from renewable energies domestically and supplementary imports. In the EU, RED III specifies the conditions under which hydrogen is considered an RFNBO ("Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin") and will be recognized as sustainable by 2030 at the latest. The digital product passport introduced in the EU for batteries serves as a reference.

DUH-IT's goal with H2-Trust is to make an open, blockchain-based proof of origin for green hydrogen usable in practice. The solution standardizes and automates the verification process along the entire supply chain, from power generation to electrolysis, transport, and use. It addresses requirements for temporal and geographical correlation as well as the allocation of greenhouse gas emissions.

The starting point is complex. There are numerous mandatory and voluntary certification schemes worldwide with different requirements and assessment logics. Companies often have to collect, interpret, and document tens of thousands of data points along the supply chain. At the same time, there is a lack of reliable, consistent master data of suitable quality. Data silos, different interfaces, and manual processes characterize the exchange between energy producers, manufacturers, logistics service providers, certification bodies, and end users. Transmission often takes place via email or Excel files. From 2030, hydrogen producers will have to provide hourly evidence of which plants they have sourced electricity  from and how greenhouse gas emissions are distributed across all process steps.

Use our research to test digital verification in the hydrogen economy.

• Open-source tool H2-Trust for digital verification along the hydrogen supply chain
• Digital product passport per batch with information on origin, production conditions, and greenhouse gas balance
• Reporting View for transparent transactions and reliable fulfillment of documentation requirements
• BlockcH2ain transfer circle as a network for exchange, feedback, and presentation of new H2 Trust functions
• Interactive 3D demonstrator for the hydrogen supply chain with digital product passport and blockchain-based verification

Arrange exchange on H2 Trust

"With blockchain, we are making the hydrogen supply chain transparent and verifiable from power generation to use, thereby creating trust in sustainable supply chains."
Sabine Jakob, M.Sc., project manager, conducts research at Fraunhofer IML on the integration of material, information, and financial flows to make supply chains more transparent and efficient.

H2-Trust digitally maps the verification process along the entire value chain. The solution starts at the renewable power generation plant and records plant information, generation volumes, and time series. It links this data with process data from electrolysis, transport and conversion steps, and final use. This creates a continuous chain of origin data and emission values.

All relevant information is incorporated into a digital product passport that is assigned to each filled batch. The product passport contains information on origin, production conditions, and greenhouse gas balance. This gives customers container-specific traceability and transparency regarding the sustainability of the hydrogen used.

A reporting view summarizes all transactions for a defined period and provides a reliable basis for compliance requirements. The application automatically checks RED III criteria such as temporal and geographical correlation and additionality. The blockchain architecture stores the data in a tamper-proof and unalterable manner. The first components were released as open source in December 2025, with further developments to follow by early 2027. The open source approach ensures that companies can adapt H2-Trust to certification systems, regional characteristics, and their own IT and infrastructure. 

Companies in the hydrogen economy and logistics sectors can get to know H2-Trust and the accompanying training opportunities free of charge.

• Open source code and documentation via the Fraunhofer IML GitHub account
• www.duh-it.de project website with learning center, blockchain quick check, event calendar, and information material
• BlockcH2ain transfer circle as a regular network meeting on H2-Trust and digital product passports

Access open source components and learning opportunities

The interactive 3D demonstrator brings the green hydrogen supply chain to life. A 3D-printed landscape on a pedestal depicts power generation, electrolysis, and utilization. Visitors can control wind turbines, photovoltaic systems, and the electrolyzer using switches. At the same time, a web interface shows power and hydrogen production in real time. A QR code leads directly to the digital product passport on a smartphone or tablet.

The demonstrator highlights the special features of digital verification: it links each amount of hydrogen produced to its specific power source, shows the temporal correlation between power and hydrogen production, and generates a unique fingerprint for the hydrogen. This makes it possible to trace hydrogen back to its source and shows how automatic data collection replaces manual documentation along the supply chain.

DUH-IT particularly supports small and medium-sized enterprises in the Dortmund–Unna–Hamm region in developing blockchain skills that can be specifically applied in logistics processes and the hydrogen economy. A coordinated transfer program combines awareness raising, training, and design.

Formats such as the digital lunch break "Blockchain Lunch," the interactive "Blockchain Gameshow," introductory and keynote speeches, lab tours through the research laboratories, and the blockchain consultation hour in cooperation with the Dortmund Chamber of Industry and Commerce lower the barriers to entry. They teach the basics, show application examples from logistics and hydrogen, and enable direct exchange with experts.

For in-depth knowledge acquisition, a blended learning course, a blockchain glossary, and the free, accessible DUH-IT Learning Center are available. The learning center comprises learning modules on blockchain technology and also includes content on the digital product passport. In addition, potential analyses, a concept lab, coding workshops for the development of smart contracts, and a use case deck with 18 practical application scenarios offer concrete support for the design of your own projects.