RECLAIMING HYDROGEN FOR A RENEWABLE FUTURE

The document asserts that only hydrogen produced from 100% renewable electricity is a true climate solution, though it remains energy-intensive and costly. It warns that current hydrogen production is dominated by fossil-fuel-based steam methane reformation and that 'blue' hydrogen may have a higher greenhouse gas footprint than burning natural gas or coal for heat. The author recommends prioritizing direct electrification for transportation and buildings, reserving green hydrogen for maritime shipping, aviation, high-heat industrial processes, and long-distance trucking.

• The vast majority of current hydrogen production is carbon-intensive, with less than 1% produced via electrolysis and less than 0.02% being truly green hydrogen from renewable electricity. Globally, hydrogen production generates more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire nation of Germany.
• Green hydrogen faces significant scaling constraints including high production costs, resource limitations, and energy conversion losses between 20% and 40%. Additionally, hydrogen combustion emits nitrogen oxides (NOx), which cause respiratory and heart damage and contribute to ozone and fine particulate matter pollution.
• Hydrogen infrastructure presents safety and economic challenges; it is highly flammable, difficult to contain, and can cause pipe embrittlement and cracking. Its low energy density necessitates more infrastructure to store and transport less energy compared to other gases.
• Hydrogen produced from natural gas with carbon capture, known as 'blue' hydrogen, was found in one study to have a greenhouse gas footprint over 20% higher than burning coal or natural gas for heat.
• Green hydrogen should be targeted specifically for hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as aviation, maritime shipping, long-distance trucking, and high-heat industrial processes, rather than the power sector or buildings.

APA

Earthjustice (2021). RECLAIMING HYDROGEN FOR A RENEWABLE FUTURE. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/hydrogen_2_pager_federal_final-1-14-22.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. RECLAIMING HYDROGEN FOR A RENEWABLE FUTURE. 2021. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/hydrogen_2_pager_federal_final-1-14-22.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Earthjustice |title=RECLAIMING HYDROGEN FOR A RENEWABLE FUTURE |date=November 2021 |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/hydrogen_2_pager_federal_final-1-14-22.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{earthjustice2021reclaiming, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{RECLAIMING HYDROGEN FOR A RENEWABLE FUTURE}}, institution = {Earthjustice}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/hydrogen_2_pager_federal_final-1-14-22.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }