Global push for Green Hydrogen may fail to deliver the expected climate benefits unless major changes are made in the way hydrogen is produced and transported, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Sheffield, Construction World reported.
The research, published in Nature Communications Sustainability, found that the environmental impact of hydrogen depends heavily on the energy sources used throughout its supply chain. According to the study, hydrogen can only become a low-carbon fuel if the electricity used for its production comes from cleaner power systems.
Researchers examined 20 possible hydrogen production and transport scenarios across 14 countries between 2023 and 2050. The analysis included major hydrogen-producing nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and China.
The study assessed five hydrogen production methods, including electrolysis and biomass-based processes, and examined how different energy sources and transport systems influence environmental outcomes. It found that hydrogen produced through electrolysis can currently have a high climate impact because much of the electricity used still comes from carbon-intensive power grids.
At present, about 96 percent of the world’s hydrogen production remains linked to fossil fuel-based energy systems, raising concerns that large-scale expansion of hydrogen alone may not significantly reduce emissions.
However, the researchers said hydrogen could become much cleaner if electricity systems are rapidly decarbonised. In such a scenario, some supply chains could reduce environmental impacts by more than 90 percent by 2050 as renewable electricity becomes the main energy source.
The study also highlighted the potential role of international hydrogen supply chains. One scenario examined hydrogen produced in the United Kingdom using proton exchange membrane electrolysis and transported to the United States, which could significantly lower environmental impacts if both countries shift to cleaner power systems.
The researchers concluded that governments and industry must work together to accelerate power sector decarbonisation and carefully design hydrogen production and transport networks. Without changes across the entire supply chain, the expansion of green hydrogen may result in only limited reductions in global emissions.
