The pipeline of announced projects is growing
‘Paper projects’ hold back green hydrogen sector
Some announced large-scale developments are unlikely to materialise, hampering supply chain investment, warn developers and equipment manufacturers
The global pipeline of announced green hydrogen projects is close to terawatt-scale, but the vast majority are far from starting construction—and some will likely never reach financial close. While these ‘paper projects’ may appear to build momentum behind the industry, they are insufficient to justify actual investment in the supply chain and particularly in local manufacturing, according to developers and equipment manufacturers speaking at the recent World Hydrogen Mena conference. “When you see all those announcements, it appears as a lot of noise—for me, a lot of fake projects,” says Luc Koechlin, CEO of the Middle East subsidiary of French energy group EDF. However, he argues these ann
Also in this section
25 February 2026
Low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia development is advancing much more slowly and unevenly than once expected, with high costs and policy uncertainty thinning investment. Meanwhile, surging energy demand is reinforcing the role of natural gas and LNG as the backbone of the global energy system, panellists at LNG2026 said
18 February 2026
Norwegian energy company has dropped a major hydrogen project and paused its CCS expansion plans as demand fails to materialise
4 February 2026
Europe’s largest electrolyser manufacturers are losing patience with policymakers as sluggish growth in the green hydrogen sector undermines their decision to expand production capacity
2 February 2026
As a fertiliser feedstock, it is indispensable, but ammonia’s potential as a carbon-free energy carrier is also making it central to global decarbonisation strategies
