Hydrogen fuel production from sugarcane and its byproducts – a critical review

Abstract The transition to a low‐carbon economy has intensified the search for sustainable hydrogen (H 2 ) production routes. Sugarcane and its byproducts, such as bagasse, molasses and vinasse, have emerged as promising feedstocks due to their ready availability and renewable nature. However, comprehensive evaluations of the efficiency, limitations, and optimization strategies of different H 2 production methods remain limited. This review systematically evaluates thermochemical (pyrolysis, gasification, and reforming), biological (dark fermentation and photofermentation), and hybrid approaches for hydrogen production from sugarcane biomass. The advantages and challenges of each technique are discussed, with a particular focus on process efficiency, catalyst development, and sustainability aspects. This review also highlights critical gaps in the literature, including the need for enhanced pretreatment strategies, more efficient microbial strains, and optimized biorefinery integration. By providing a comparative analysis of current methodologies and proposing future research directions, this study aims to guide technological advancements toward a more viable and scalable hydrogen production framework from sugarcane.