Introduction to hydrogen

A brief history of the use of hydrogen as a fuel

Although clean hydrogen is a relatively new field, the discovery and applications of hydrogen – including hydrogen as a fuel – stretch back over centuries. This timeline highlights some of the key events in this history.

The role of hydrogen in delivering net zero

Electrification will be key to delivering net zero – but it won’t be possible or feasible in all sectors. Clean molecule-based energy carriers including hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives provide an alternative to electrification in hard-to-abate sectors, for instance in primary steel production or long-distance heavy transport.

As illustrated below, in the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario from the International Energy Agency (IEA), clean hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives are expected to deliver about 10% of total energy consumption worldwide.

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As illustrated in the above figure, heavy industries (in particular, steel, ammonia, methanol, and fuel refining) and the transport sector (in particular heavy-duty road freight, international shipping, and aviation) are expected to account for most of the future demand for clean hydrogen. However, these will not account for the total demand for clean energy. In fact, other areas such as the building or transport sectors are expected to account for a significant amount of the demand for clean hydrogen and other clean molecules including energy produced using carbon capture technologies.