Development of Clean and Low-Carbon Hydrogen Technologies for the Decarbonization Pathway

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the effects of global hydrogen production trends on the decarbonization pathway. The study covers clean and low-carbon technologies for industrial-scale hydrogen production, defined as those capable of producing more than 100 nm3 of hydrogen per hour. The study classifies industrial-scale technologies into six categories according to their potential for industrial application within the next 15 yr. A comprehensive review of 560 major hydrogen production projects from 49 countries worldwide is conducted. The review is based on the International Energy Agency (IEA) database. It focuses on the location of the projects, the technologies applied, the renewable and non-renewable energy sources used, and the impact of hydrogen technologies on the decarbonization strategy. The hydrogen projects have been clearly classified according to the “color” of hydrogen, which conditionally reflects cleanliness of the process used for hydrogen production. The analysis compares the previous study by the authors with the current study, allowing them to identify unchanged trends and determine the changes in trends of clean and low-carbon technologies that have real prospects for industrial implementation. The demonstrated trends in the development of hydrogen production technology over the period 2000–2038 provide a clear roadmap for scientists, policy makers, industry players, and investors as they navigate the expanding hydrogen energy sector for its sustainable development. The study is based solely on information from publicly available sources.