Hydrogen as a Catalyst for Sustainability: Decoding the Value Chain

The escalating global demand for energy, propelled by rapid economic expansion and population growth, has intensified dependence on fossil fuels, resulting in heightened greenhouse gas emissions and accelerated resource depletion. This pressing scenario underscores the urgent need to transition from conventional energy systems to renewable energy alternatives. Hydrogen (H2) has emerged as a clean energy fuel to facilitate a shift towards a lower carbon economy. Unlike carbon-based synthetic fuels, H2 offers the potential for a carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative lifecycle when produced from renewable energy sources. This review provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the hydrogen economy, detailing its value chain from production to practical application and elucidating its potential to support decreasing carbon footprint.