Everything you need to know about hydrogen in the clean energy transition

"You can’t see it or touch it, but it’s in everything you see and touch. We're talking about hydrogen – the most abundant element in the universe – and its potential as a cornerstone of the energy transition which is generating a lot of excitement in the energy industry and beyond."

That is how one article from the World Economic Forum from January 2023 starts. As we have been posting, hydrogen is becoming more and more relevant in the new the global energy system , alongside technologies such as carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCS) and renewables .

G7 countries Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States. Refining and chemical industries. Hard-to-electrify heavy mobility sectors like railways and buses. Shipping sector, fleet owners and operators. ‘Green’ steel and use of hydrogen in the direct reduction of iron.

Despite being a colourless gas, hydrogen is labelled in a rainbow of colours, each representing a different method of production with its own emissions footprint:

• intense CO2 emissions: grey, black or brown, from combusting natural gas or different types of coal

• low CO2 emissions: blue, by combusting natural gas for steam methane reforming, in conjunction with CCS.

• emissions-free: green, using an electrolyser powered by renewable energy, such as solar and wind.

Another interesting aspect mentioned by G7 countries is the concept of hydrogen valleys or hubs. They are demand centres constituting various end users that can enable economies of scale while also testing various technologies, with special regulations and international support. These hydrogen valleys, intended for long term growth and manageable risks and economic synergies, are set as anchors for future hydrogen producers, hubs of multiple users, and innovative business models encompassing various industries, users and economics. Click here to learn more about European Hydrogen Valleys .

And here to read the full article by the World Economic Forum.

By clicking on the graphic below, you access the report "Accelerating hydrogen deployment in the G7: Recommendations for the Hydrogen Action Pact" by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which has been analyzing the full potential of hydrogen since 2018. The report summarizes briefly reviews the status and prospects for hydrogen in each G7 country, including analysis of technology, costs, strategy and stated political support for each country, and presents recommendations for accelerating global hydrogen trade.