Letter from Rotterdam: Somewhere over the rainbow
The ultimate prize for the low-carbon hydrogen sector is a significant share of the global energy mix, but multiple challenges stand in the way
“Is there a pot of gold at the end of the hydrogen rainbow?” That was the question posed by opening keynote speaker Nicola De Blasio, senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, at the recent World Hydrogen Congress. Judging by the discussions that followed, the industry’s answer might go something like this: Maybe, but let us not get ahead of ourselves, because the immediate challenges are significant. The consensus is that the “pot of gold” for the nascent low-carbon hydrogen industry is a 10–15% share of the global energy mix by the second half of the century and, as a result, a significant role in the net-zero project. That is a long way off. The industry’s immediate foc

Also in this section
25 July 2025
Oil major cites strategy reset as it walks away from Australian Renewable Energy Hub, leaving partner InterContinental Energy to lead one of world’s largest green hydrogen projects
23 July 2025
Electrolysis seen as most leakage-prone production pathway as study warns of sharp increase through 2030 and beyond
22 July 2025
The gas-hungry sector is set for rapid growth, and oil majors and some of the world’s largest LNG firms are investing in ammonia production and export facilities, though much depends on regulatory support
16 July 2025
Major manufacturer cancels rollout of new hydrogen-powered vans and strengthens focus on battery electric and hybrid markets