Realistic roles for hydrogen

What roles can green hydrogen play in the energy transition? Beyond the hype generated by its versatility, it is important to ask ourselves in which areas this apparently promising energy can be most effective. Society cannot afford the luxury of investing all its resources in one technology.

In this article, the researchers point out that the physical properties of hydrogen (in particular its flammability, its propensity to leak and to affect metals) have consequences in terms of cost and safety. A rapid reduction in costs - including production but also transport, storage and usage - similar to that experienced recently by solar panels and batteries, is unlikely in the short term.

Use in cars and for heating are, according to the researchers, the least promising applications for hydrogen, given the better performance of direct electrification in these areas. They note, however, that there is "potential in industry, lon-duration energy storage and long-haul transport", and recommend that "hydrogen strategies should prioritize and support these areas to achieve the greatest impact".