Hydrogen fuel a ‘dead end’ for net zero
The fuel is expensive, inefficient and associated with worse environmental impacts than other options when it comes to heating and transport, argues Hydrogen Science Coalition
Hydrogen as a fuel for heating and transport is too inefficient and expensive a route for the world to take if it is to reach net zero by 2050, according to David Cebon, a professor at the University of Cambridge and a member of thinktank the Hydrogen Science Coalition. “The most effective use cases for green hydrogen to reduce emissions are exactly what it is used for now,” Cebon argues, highlighting fertilisers, petrochemicals and glass as carbon-intensive sectors where hydrogen is used in vast quantities. Steelmaking, responsible for 7–8pc of global emissions, is a sector where hydrogen could replace coking coal to directly reduce iron. “In all these industrial processes, hydrogen will be

Also in this section
22 September 2023
Excitement over natural hydrogen is building, but its potential to contribute meaningfully to global supply is unclear
22 September 2023
Imbalances between supply and demand ambitions risk derailing production growth, IEA warns
22 September 2023
Hydrogen Council says new guidelines will help ensure free and fair trade of the fuel as market develops
22 September 2023
Greater clarity on rules governing 45V tax credit needed to unlock investment in the US low-carbon hydrogen sector, Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh tells Hydrogen Economist