<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0TqNWV_0w312MnE00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0TqNWV_0w312MnE00" width="1920" height="1080" ><figcaption>Illustration: Tiffany Herring/Axios</figcaption></figure>New reports together present a sobering view of the potential for large-scale hydrogen production using renewable electricity.Why it matters: Climate-friendly hydrogen can slash carbon from heavy industries, power, and moving freight. But volumes today are tiny.Driving the news: A <a href="https://www.cell.com/joule/abstract/S2542-4351(24)00421-5">Harvard study</a> finds "green" hydrogen won't go beyond "niche" uses without big cost reductions.<ul><li>The paper in Joule says many analyses don't adequately weigh the expense of storage and distribution infrastructure — not just production.</li><li>Reminder: "Green" hydrogen means using renewable electricity to power equipment that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.</li></ul>State of play: Elsewhere this week, the International Energy Agency <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/renewables-2024">projected</a> hydrogen made with renewables will be just 4% of the world's total in 2030.<ul><li>And risk management firm DNV — looking at all forms of hydrogen — <a href="https://link.axios.com/click/37041033.6/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZG52LmNvbS9lbmVyZ3ktdHJhbnNpdGlvbi1vdXRsb29rL2Rvd25sb2FkLz91dG1fc291cmNlPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249c2VuZHRvX25ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0X3BvbGl0aWNzX3BvbGljeSZzdHJlYW09dG9w/61153b33f711de3b0d90b967Bbb5b10a2">downgraded</a> its 2050 projection of its share in the global energy mix by 20%. But that said, they do see various low-carbon methods taking up growing shares.</li></ul>The big picture: The Harvard paper estimates that today, total costs are between $500–$1,250 per ton of CO2 avoided using green hydrogen.<ul><li>That's so high that even if predicted production cost declines materialize, the wider basket of expenses make it uncompetitive beyond limited applications like making ammonia.</li></ul>Yes, but: None of this is destiny!<ul><li>A separate IEA <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/global-hydrogen-review-2024">report</a> last week noted major growth in project announcements, though few have reached final investment stage.</li><li>It calls for stronger national policies to stimulate demand.</li></ul>And the peer-reviewed Harvard study doesn't rule out green hydrogen one day becoming widely used. But there's an "urgent need" for R&amp;D to cut storage and distribution costs.What they're saying: Carnegie Mellon University's Valerie Karplus tells Axios that the paper provides an important look at costs across the value chain — and the uncertainty bands around them.<ul><li>"If we look longer term, the potential for both technological innovation and clever business models to bring down some of these costs is enormous," said Karplus, a professor in the engineering and public policy department who wasn't involved with the Harvard study.</li></ul>What we're watching: In the U.S., the Treasury Department plans to complete rules this year for tapping major IRA hydrogen tax subsidies.</div></body>

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Green hydrogen has a reality check

New reports together present a sobering view of the potential for large-scale hydrogen production using renewable electricity. Why it matters: Climate-friendly hydrogen can slash carbon from heavy industries, power, and moving freight. But volumes today are tiny. Driving the news: A Harvard study finds \"green\" hydrogen won't go beyond \"niche\"...

New reports together present a sobering view of the potential for large-scale hydrogen production using renewable electricity. Why it matters: Climate-friendly hydrogen can slash carbon from heavy industries, power, and moving freight. But volumes today are tiny. Driving the news: A Harvard study finds "green" hydrogen won't go beyond "niche"...

Green hydrogen has a reality check

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