Accelerating the Transition to a Hydrogen Future​

Hydrogen, or H2, is an element that makes up about three quarters of all matter in the universe. Although it is the most abundant substance in existence, hydrogen is rarely found on Earth in its pure form, so it must be extracted using other energy sources. Because hydrogen has three times as much energy content by weight as gasoline, it can enable net-zero or near net-zero emissions when produced from renewable sources or paired with carbon-capture technologies.

As a fuel, hydrogen is converted into energy by means of traditional combustion or electrochemical fuel cells or blended with natural gas for use in power generation applications, residential heating, or mass transportation in trucks, trains, ships and aircraft. Hydrogen is also used as a raw material in a wide range of industries, including oil refining, pharmaceuticals, metals manufacturing, and methanol and ammonia production.

Today, 99% of all hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels such as natural gas or coal via gasification or steam methane reforming with CO2 as a byproduct. Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology can then be applied to remove greenhouse gases, resulting in so-called blue hydrogen. Hydrogen can also be made from electrolysis, which applies an electrical current to water molecules, splitting them into oxygen and hydrogen with zero carbon emissions. Most electrolysis is powered by the existing electricity grid, but if renewable sources such as wind or solar are used, the resulting “green” hydrogen can provide the same.

Hydrogen is an extremely versatile fuel that offers a path to sustainable long-term economic growth. It can add value to multiple sectors in the global economy by serving as a sustainable fuel for transportation and manufacturing, and an input for the production of electricity and heat for homes. Industry experts project that a $2.5 trillion global market for hydrogen technologies could exist by 2050, with 3.4 million jobs added in the U.S. alone. Furthermore, renewable hydrogen could cut global CO2 emissions by 25% if produced at scale. 
 

But to achieve full commercialization, key challenges related to cost, durability, reliability, performance, and lack of infrastructure must be addressed. New technologies, such as electrolyzers with greater output capacity, must be further developed and expanded into larger markets for hydrogen to compete with fossil fuels or wind, solar and nuclear energy in terms of life-cycle cost, performance, durability, learning rates and environmental impact. Non-technical barriers also need to be addressed, such as developing codes and standards, establishing best practices for safety, and developing a robust supply chain and workforce.