The World Energy Council has published an innovation Insights briefing entitled ‘Hydrogen on the Horizon: ready, almost set, go?’. The paper informs worldwide energy dialogue on hydrogen’s role in ongoing, and future, energy transitions and transformations.
Prepared in collaboration with PwC and the U.S. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the briefing shares various hydrogen demand scenarios, country and regional-level priorities and identifies important enablers and barriers for large-scale hydrogen development.
Countries’ views on hydrogen’s potential role in the energy transitions are vastly different, with national hydrogen strategies showing significant differences across the world. A comparative assessment of existing worldwide hydrogen demand scenarios shows estimates varying between 6 – 25% of final worldwide energy consumption by 2050 (between 150 and 600 Mt by 2050) depending on how hydrogen will compete with other clean solutions such as battery storage.
Asia and Europe currently seem more demand focused while the Middle East and North Africa focus on the supply of hydrogen. Asia shows a greater focus on hydrogen as a liquid fuel in the form of ammonia and as a transport fuel for shipping and road transport. In contrast, Europe is more focused on using hydrogen to decarbonise the hard-to-abate sectors in industry and transport (e.g. heavy industries, HGVs, mass transportation). The Americas (North and South) are considering production for their own consumption and export.
Dr Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer, of the World Energy Council said: “Hydrogen on the Horizon puts the focus on the role of hydrogen users and demand, moving beyond traditional supply-centric energy perspectives. With demand forecasts showing such large variations in consumption forecasts I’d say that nations and society at-large would-be better-off training for the pentathlon rather than the 100 m sprint or the high jumps. Successful, just and equitable worldwide energy transitions will test the ingenuity, skills and collaborative abilities of all nations.
“How countries want to produce and consume clean energy, and their immediate national priorities, will shape large-scale hydrogen development and end-user uptake. Identifying end-user priorities and triggers for enhanced demand is critical to better understand hydrogen’s real potential in creating decarbonised societal futures”.
