Understanding U.S. hydrogen demand through a Gulf Coast lens

The Gulf Coast is a primary hub for U.S. hydrogen due to its concentration of petroleum refining and chemical production. With Texas and Louisiana leading in refining and ammonia capacities, the region is well-positioned to transition to clean hydrogen to meet domestic needs and international demand from markets like Japan, South Korea, and the European Union.

• The United States produces and consumes between 11-14 million metric tons (MMT) of hydrogen annually, with over 60% of this production occurring in Louisiana, Texas, and California.
• Hydrogen demand in the U.S. is highly concentrated, with more than 77% tied to ammonia production, methanol production, and petroleum refining; refining alone represents over half of all consumption.
• The Gulf Coast is a central hydrogen hub because Texas and Louisiana possess the largest refining capacities in the U.S., and Louisiana ranks first in ammonia production capacity, more than doubling the capacity of Oklahoma.
• International policy-driven demand is emerging for clean hydrogen imports; Japan targets 3 MMT per year by 2030 and 20 MMT by 2050, while South Korea targets 3.9 MMT by 2030 and over 27 MMT by 2050.
• To accelerate clean hydrogen deployment, the document recommends that Gulf states modernize regulatory environments, explore state support mechanisms for infrastructure and demand-side incentives, and streamline permitting processes.

APA

Ouyang, A., & Phillips, L. C. (2026). Understanding U.S. hydrogen demand through a Gulf Coast lens. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2026/04/understanding-us-hydrogen-demand-gulf-coast-lens/

Chicago

Ouyang, Amy, and Lindsay Cooper Phillips. Understanding U.S. hydrogen demand through a Gulf Coast lens. Clean Air Task Force, 2026. https://www.catf.us/2026/04/understanding-us-hydrogen-demand-gulf-coast-lens/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ouyang |first1=Amy |last2=Phillips |first2=Lindsay Cooper |title=Understanding U.S. hydrogen demand through a Gulf Coast lens |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=14 April 2026 |url=https://www.catf.us/2026/04/understanding-us-hydrogen-demand-gulf-coast-lens/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ouyang2026understanding, author = {Ouyang, Amy and Phillips, Lindsay Cooper}, title = {{Understanding U.S. hydrogen demand through a Gulf Coast lens}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://www.catf.us/2026/04/understanding-us-hydrogen-demand-gulf-coast-lens/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }