Full Title: Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation Potential of Existing and Planned Hydrogen Projects
Author(s): Tom Terlouw, Christian Moretti, Carina Harpprecht, Romain Sacchi, Russell McKenna, and Christian Bauer
Publisher(s): Nature
Publication Date: November 5, 2025
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Description (excerpt):
Hydrogen will play a critical role in decarbonizing diverse economic sectors. However, given limited sustainable resources and the energy-intensive nature of its production, prioritizing its applications will be essential. Here, we analyse approximately 2,000 (low-carbon) hydrogen projects worldwide, encompassing operational and planned initiatives until 2043, quantifying their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation potential from a life cycle perspective. Our results demonstrate the variability in GHG emissions of hydrogen applications, depending on the geographical location and hydrogen source used. The most climate-effective hydrogen applications include steel-making, biofuels and ammonia, while hydrogen use for road transport, power generation and domestic heating should be discouraged as more favourable alternatives exist. Planned low-carbon hydrogen projects could generate 110 MtH2 yr−1, emit approximately 0.4 GtCO2e yr−1, and potentially reduce net life cycle GHG emissions by 0.2–1.1 GtCO2e yr−1 by 2043, depending on the substituted product or service. Addressing the current hydrogen implementation gap and prioritizing climate-effective applications are crucial for meeting decarbonization goals.