The World Energy Council has published an innovation Insights briefing titled "Hydrogen on the Horizon: ready, almost set, go? ”
The paper informs worldwide energy dialogue on hydrogen’s role in ongoing, and future, energy transitions and transformations.
Prepared in collaboration with PwC and the U.S. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the briefing shares various hydrogen demand scenarios, country and regional-level priorities and identifies important enablers and barriers for large-scale hydrogen development.
Asia and Europe seem more demand focused while the Middle East and North Africa focus on the supply of hydrogen. Asia shows a greater focus on hydrogen as a liquid fuel in the form of ammonia and as a transport fuel for shipping and road transport. In contrast, Europe is more focused on using hydrogen to decarbonise the hard-to-abate sectors in industry and transport (e.g. heavy industries, HGVs, mass transportation). The Americas (North and South) are considering production for their own consumption and export.
Dr Angela Wilkinson, secretary general and CEO, of the World Energy Council, said, “Hydrogen on the Horizon’ puts the focus on the role of hydrogen users and demand, moving beyond traditional supply-centric energy perspectives. With demand forecasts showing such large variations in consumption forecasts I’d say that nations and society at-large would-be better-off training for the pentathlon rather than the 100 metre sprint or the high jumps.”
“How countries want to produce and consume clean energy, and their immediate national priorities, will shape large-scale hydrogen development and end-user uptake. Identifying end-user priorities and triggers for enhanced demand is critical to better understand hydrogen’s real potential in creating decarbonised societal futures.”
Neva Espinoza, vice-president, Energy Supply and Low-Carbon Resources, EPRI, commented, “The development of hydrogen as a source of energy is larger than the colour debate. Colours were assigned to assist in the communication of hydrogen sourcing, but the focus should be on the carbon intensity of hydrogen and the potential for large-scale deployment. This will be far more useful for groups and individuals seeking to achieve their decarbonisation goals.”
Hydrogen on the Horizon shows that scaling hydrogen up within the energy system faces significant challenges. Low-carbon hydrogen is currently not cost competitive with other energy supplies in most applications and locations and is likely to remain so without significant support to bridge the price gap - which raises the question of who should fund this support. These projects span the hydrogen value chain and are across all relevant sectors of the global economy.
Interest in clean hydrogen as an energy vector is surging across the globe as countries and companies seek to explore its potential to decarbonise the hard-to-abate sectors and uses, providing flexible storage for an increasing amount of renewables.
