Global Hydrogen Industry: Progress, Challenges, and the Path Forward
Key Ideas
  • Investment in hydrogen projects reaching final investment decision globally has increased seven-fold in the past four years, signaling industry growth and momentum.
  • Project maturity has improved with more projects moving towards advanced stages, driven by factors like incentives and demand-side visibility.
  • Regulatory uncertainty and macroeconomic challenges have caused delays, but regions like North America are leading in low-carbon hydrogen capacity deployment.
  • Significant investment increase and joint efforts from governments and industry are needed to accelerate global energy system decarbonization and meet climate goals by 2030.
The report, authored by the Hydrogen Council in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, provides an overview of the global hydrogen industry's progress from 2020 to 2024. The industry has experienced a significant increase in investment for hydrogen projects reaching final investment decision (FID) globally, with clean hydrogen projects showing a dramatic rise in committed investment. Key success factors include effective incentives, demand-side visibility, and strong industrial policy driving cost reductions. The global project pipeline has grown substantially, with investments in front end engineering design (FEED) stage projects increasing significantly. However, the industry faces challenges such as regulatory uncertainty and macroeconomic headwinds, leading to delays and cancellations of projects, particularly in renewable hydrogen. To meet climate commitments, an 8-fold increase in investments in hydrogen is needed by 2030. Government incentives and legislative frameworks play a crucial role in mobilizing private capital and advancing mature projects. Despite the challenges, there has been notable progress in regions like North America, which have seen a high percentage of global low-carbon hydrogen capacity deployment. Moving forward, joint efforts between governments and industry are essential to accelerate the decarbonization of the global energy system and achieve climate goals by addressing regulatory clarity, supporting demand drivers, and developing necessary infrastructure.
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