Hydrogen’s narrow pathway to positive climate impacts

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A new report from Energy Innovation warns that hydrogen, a key player in clean energy efforts, could potentially worsen climate pollution and other social outcomes if not managed carefully. The report highlights that hydrogen's highest-value applications lie in sectors like refining, ammonia production, aviation fuel, and marine shipping, while its lowest-value uses are in energy applications like power generation and building decarbonization.

The report raises concerns about hydrogen policies heavily focused on supply-side subsidies, potentially leading to the misuse of hydrogen in less effective applications. Furthermore, hydrogen's inefficiencies in replacing existing energy sources for buildings and power generation, alongside its flammability and leakiness compared to natural gas, underscore the need for cautious and strategic use of hydrogen in clean energy plans to avoid unintended consequences.