Articles tagged with "hydrogen"
Von optimistischen Modellen zu leeren Pipelines: Die intellektuelle Geschichte von Deutschlands Wasserstoff-Backbone* - CleanTechnica
The article traces the intellectual history behind Germany's hydrogen backbone infrastructure, emphasizing that the physical pipeline network is the visible outcome of a long period of optimistic modeling and policy-driven assumptions rather than a straightforward technical project. For years, studies and analyses portrayed hydrogen as not only plausible but necessary for large-scale energy use, extending its traditional industrial roles into general energy applications. However, these studies systematically overlooked or downplayed the significant challenges and energy losses involved in hydrogen production, distribution, storage, and utilization, leading to overly positive cost and efficiency assumptions. Key failures arose from stacking multiple optimistic assumptions—such as low electrolyzer investment costs, underestimated electricity prices, and simplified or omitted costs for compression, storage, and pipeline operation—without critical peer review. This created a distorted picture of hydrogen’s viability as a flexible energy carrier comparable to electricity. In reality, the energy conversion chain for hydrogen is marked by substantial losses, with often less than 30% of the original electrical energy reaching the end-use application. The normalization
energyhydrogenenergy-infrastructureenergy-storageenergy-lossesenergy-transportenergy-policyUnter Druck gesetzter Stahl, fehlende Nachfrage: Deutschlands Wasserstoff-Backbone in den Energieflüssen* - CleanTechnica
The article critically examines Germany's national hydrogen backbone infrastructure, highlighting a fundamental mismatch between its design assumptions and the actual energy system needs. The hydrogen pipeline network, described as "real steel in the ground, under pressure," is being built on the premise that hydrogen will be the primary energy carrier, especially to sustain raw-material-based industrial applications. However, detailed analysis using three comprehensive Sankey diagrams of Germany’s 2024 energy flows reveals that hydrogen plays at best a niche role and at worst represents an expensive detour in the energy transition. The current energy system is dominated by fossil fuels with significant energy losses, especially as waste heat from combustion engines and industrial processes, underscoring that Germany’s climate challenge is primarily an efficiency problem rather than just a fuel substitution issue. The first Sankey diagram illustrates Germany’s 2024 energy system, showing a total primary energy input of about 2,900 TWh, with over half lost as waste heat. This inefficiency highlights that decarbonization efforts
energyhydrogenenergy-transitionrenewable-energyenergy-efficiencyGermany-energy-systemdecarbonization400 km Wasserstoffpipeline ohne Nutzer wird Deutschlands Strompreise erhöhen* - CleanTechnica
Germany has recently completed and pressurized the first approximately 400 km segment of its national hydrogen backbone pipeline, which is technically operational with functioning compressors and buried pipelines. However, a significant issue remains: there are no substantial hydrogen suppliers connected, nor are there contractually committed consumers. This is not a temporary delay but a structural demand failure. The costs of this infrastructure will persist for decades and will ultimately be passed on to consumers through higher electricity prices. The initial political vision for the hydrogen backbone was to create a roughly 9,000 km national transmission network designed to supply 10 to 20 GW corridors, replacing natural gas across multiple sectors such as steel, chemicals, transport fuels, dispatchable power generation, and heavy industry. The assumed hydrogen demand in political documents and commissioned studies rapidly rose to between 100 and 130 TWh by 2030 and beyond, making the national backbone seem plausible at that scale. However, a key analytical error in European hydrogen policy is the misuse of energy units (
energyhydrogenenergy-infrastructureGermany-energy-policyhydrogen-pipelineenergy-transitionindustrial-energyWhen Europe’s Economic Institutions Step Away From Hydrogen - CleanTechnica
The article discusses a significant shift in the stance of Europe’s leading economic institutions—Germany’s Council of Economic Experts and France’s Conseil d’analyse économique—regarding the role of hydrogen in the transport sector. Their joint analysis, focusing on heavy road transport, concluded that battery electric trucks are more efficient, cost-effective, and quicker to deploy than hydrogen fuel cell trucks. This is due to the higher energy conversion efficiency of battery electric vehicles (about 75%) compared to hydrogen trucks (around 25% after accounting for electrolysis, compression, distribution, and reconversion losses). The councils recommended prioritizing public investments in electricity grids and charging infrastructure, while reserving hydrogen for sectors where electrification is not viable. They also suggested removing plans and budgets for hydrogen refueling stations and synthetic fuels from national and EU targets. Supporting this perspective, the European Court of Auditors found that hydrogen’s cost per ton of CO₂ avoided in transport is substantially higher—often exceeding €400 and sometimes nearing €600—
energyhydrogenbattery-electric-trucksfuel-cellsclean-energytransportationinfrastructureGermany’s Hydrogen Strategy Delayed Electrification by Pulling the Workforce the Wrong Way - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica critically examines Germany’s hydrogen strategy, particularly its focus on developing a hydrogen pipeline infrastructure that currently lacks customers and suppliers. This strategic choice has had significant unintended consequences on Germany’s workforce and training priorities, ultimately delaying the electrification, grid expansion, and renewable energy integration that the country urgently needs. By positioning hydrogen infrastructure as a long-term, regulated national asset, Germany sent strong signals to industry, regulators, and training institutions, prompting substantial investments in hydrogen-specific skills development, certifications, and training centers. For example, a major German gas transmission system operator invested around €10 million in a dedicated hydrogen training facility, reflecting the expectation that hydrogen would be central to the future energy system. While hydrogen-related skills are largely transferable to other industrial contexts, the article highlights the opportunity cost of this focus: finite training time, institutional resources, and career signaling have been disproportionately directed toward hydrogen at the expense of electrification efforts. This shift is problematic because Germany’s current decarbonization bott
energyhydrogenelectrificationrenewable-energyworkforce-developmentenergy-strategyGermanyWhen Steel Outlives Strategy: The Climate Cost of Germany’s Hydrogen Pipeline - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica critically examines Germany’s large-diameter pipeline initially built around 2020 for natural gas transmission, which has since been repurposed for hydrogen transport. Originally designed during a period when Germany anticipated prolonged natural gas demand supported by Russian supply, the pipeline now stands pressurized and filled with fossil hydrogen but lacks meaningful suppliers or contracted users. This situation raises concerns about the pipeline’s climate impact, emphasizing that infrastructure does not inherently become climate positive simply by rebranding; it must deliver genuine decarbonization benefits that outweigh the embedded emissions from its materials, construction, and operation. A key focus is the substantial carbon footprint embedded in the pipeline’s steel, which accounts for roughly 320,000 tons of steel—about 1% of Germany’s annual steel demand. Producing this steel emitted between 220,000 and 750,000 tons of CO2 equivalent, with a central estimate around 600,000 to 650,000 tons, representing a significant upfront climate
energyhydrogenpipelinesteelcarbon-emissionsdecarbonizationGermanyPressurized Steel, Missing Demand: Germany’s Hydrogen Backbone In Energy Flows - CleanTechnica
The article critically examines Germany’s planned national hydrogen pipeline infrastructure, arguing that it is being developed for an energy system that does not require it. The current hydrogen backbone is based on assumptions that hydrogen will serve as a primary energy carrier and maintain commodity industrial uses, rather than focusing on high-value, skilled industries. Analysis of Germany’s 2024 energy flows through Sankey diagrams reveals that hydrogen’s role is marginal at best and potentially an inefficient detour in the transition to a decarbonized energy system. The first Sankey diagram illustrates Germany’s 2024 energy system dominated by fossil fuels, with significant energy losses—over half of the primary energy input is rejected as waste heat, highlighting inefficiencies inherent in combustion and thermal conversion. The second Sankey models a fully electrified, renewables-based future where electricity replaces combustion, drastically reducing energy losses and simplifying the system. In this scenario, hydrogen plays no significant role, as electrification, heat pumps, battery electric vehicles, and electric arc furn
energyhydrogenGermanyrenewable-energydecarbonizationenergy-efficiencysteelmakingSame Length, Different Logic: China’s Industrial Hydrogen Pipeline Versus Germany’s Backbone - CleanTechnica
The article compares China’s existing 1,000 km-plus industrial hydrogen pipeline with Germany’s planned hydrogen backbone, highlighting that despite superficial similarities, the two projects differ fundamentally in purpose, scale, demand anchoring, and risk allocation. Germany’s hydrogen backbone was designed under policy assumptions treating hydrogen as a versatile energy carrier with projected demand across multiple sectors including power generation, industrial heat, transport, and e-fuels. However, these projections were not tied to binding contracts or specific industrial timelines, resulting in a completed initial pipeline segment with no significant customers and costs already embedded in electricity tariffs. Realistic assessments drastically reduce Germany’s hydrogen demand estimates from 110–130 TWh to roughly 4–14 TWh, as sectors like refining, transport, steel production, and power generation shift toward alternatives such as electrification, scrap recycling, and biomethane. In contrast, China’s hydrogen pipeline serves a well-defined industrial purpose, transporting hydrogen primarily used as feedstock in refining, ammonia, methanol,
energyhydrogenindustrial-decarbonizationpipelinesGermanyChinaclean-energy-infrastructureHow Early Climate Leadership Locked Germany Into The Wrong Hydrogen Bet - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica examines how Germany’s early climate leadership led it to heavily invest in hydrogen as a key element of its decarbonization strategy—a decision rooted in the context of the 1990s and early 2000s when climate risks were recognized but clean technology options were limited. At that time, wind and solar power were costly and less developed, batteries were expensive and low in energy density, and grid-scale storage was minimal. Hydrogen, by contrast, was already widely produced and used industrially, with existing infrastructure and safety protocols. It promised multiple benefits: seasonal storage, energy transport via pipelines, and use in long-range vehicles, making it a seemingly cautious and rational choice for a low-carbon future. This early adoption turned hydrogen from a technology option into a strategic pillar, embedding it deeply into Germany’s policies, industry coalitions, vocational training, and regulatory frameworks. However, as the 2000s progressed, the economic and efficiency realities of green hydrogen became clearer.
energyhydrogenrenewable-energyenergy-storagedecarbonizationfuel-cellselectrolyzers400km Hydrogen Pipeline With No Users Will Raise Germany’s Electricity Prices - CleanTechnica
Germany has completed and pressurized the first approximately 400km segment of its national hydrogen backbone pipeline, making the infrastructure technically ready for operation. However, the project faces a critical issue: there are currently no significant hydrogen suppliers connected nor substantial customers contracted to use the hydrogen. This lack of demand is not a temporary issue but a structural failure, which has broader implications beyond hydrogen policy. The costs of building and maintaining this infrastructure will persist for decades and will ultimately be passed on to consumers through higher electricity prices. The original plan for Germany’s hydrogen backbone envisioned a 9,000km national transmission network designed to support hydrogen demand in the range of 100 to 130 TWh by 2030, serving sectors such as steel, chemicals, transport fuels, power generation, and heavy industry. The strategy was to build the infrastructure first and let supply and demand develop afterward. However, a fundamental analytical error in European hydrogen policy is the use of terawatt-hours (TWh) to measure hydrogen demand
energyhydrogenpipelineGermanyelectricity-pricesinfrastructureclean-energyHydrogen Can’t Cut The Mustard, Even In Dijon - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica analyzes the failure of Dijon’s ambitious hydrogen transportation project, which aimed to deploy hydrogen-powered buses, refuse trucks, and light municipal vehicles fueled by locally produced hydrogen via electrolysis. The project was well-funded and serious, with infrastructure built and supply agreements signed. However, the plan relied heavily on electricity generated from municipal waste-to-energy (WtE) incineration—about 90% of the electricity for electrolysis—with the remainder from local renewables. This choice proved problematic because WtE electricity has a high carbon intensity (around 700-900 gCO2e/kWh), which, when multiplied by the energy demands of electrolysis (approximately 55 kWh per kg of hydrogen), resulted in hydrogen production with a carbon footprint significantly higher than diesel fuel. Quantitatively, the article shows that hydrogen buses in Dijon would emit roughly 208 tons of CO2e annually, more than double the 83 tons emitted by comparable diesel buses. Similarly, hydrogen
energyhydrogenclean-energywaste-to-energyelectrolysisemissionssustainable-transportationSpain & Denmark Leading the Way on Green Shipping Fuels — Study - CleanTechnica
A recent study highlighted that Spain, Denmark, Norway, and France are leading Europe in developing green e-fuels for the shipping sector, with up to 80 projects identified that could produce over 3.6 million tonnes of oil equivalent by 2032. However, only about 5% of these volumes are clearly dedicated to maritime use, and few projects have reached final investment or operational stages. This slow progress is largely attributed to a lack of regulatory certainty and insufficiently ambitious shipping fuel targets within the EU, which discourages investment and project scaling. Norway currently leads in marine e-fuel production volumes, followed by Spain, Finland, and Denmark. A notable milestone is the Kassø project by European Energy, which began supplying e-methanol to Maersk in 2025, marking Europe’s first and largest marine e-fuel initiative. The study also found that shipping is a major potential consumer of e-ammonia and e-methanol, often surpassing traditional sectors like
energygreen-fuelsshippinge-fuelshydrogenrenewable-energymaritime-energySingapore Reimagines Jurong Island as a Global Low-Carbon Testbed as it Celebrates its 25th Anniversary - CleanTechnica
Singapore’s Jurong Island, traditionally a petrochemical and refining hub, is celebrating its 25th anniversary by transforming into a global low-carbon testbed aimed at supporting the country’s energy transition. Originally developed to anchor multinational petrochemical companies and create an integrated chemicals value chain, Jurong Island now hosts over 100 global firms and remains central to Singapore’s manufacturing sector. However, facing global shifts such as declining petrochemical demand, stricter regulations on plastics, and increased scrutiny on industrial emissions, Singapore is pivoting the island toward specialty chemicals, sustainable materials, and next-generation fuels. Nearly 300 hectares have been allocated for new-energy infrastructure, including hydrogen production, ammonia storage, sustainable aviation fuel pathways, and advanced battery systems, signaling Jurong Island’s role as a platform for national decarbonization efforts. Key initiatives unveiled during the 25th anniversary include six new partnerships involving global companies, government agencies, universities, and climate-tech providers, focusing on proving and scaling low-carbon technologies under real
energylow-carbon-technologieshydrogensustainable-materialsmicrogridsspecialty-chemicalsdecarbonizationMapping A Low-Carbon Industrial Future With Hydrogen, Depolymerization - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights how automation is becoming central to decarbonization efforts across various heavy industries, as discussed at Rockwell Automation’s 2025 Automation Fair. Industry leaders emphasized that advanced control systems, digital traceability, and electrochemical innovations are converging to enable low-carbon industrial processes. Automation is no longer just a support tool but the backbone of strategies to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining economic viability and regulatory compliance. Key examples include depolymerization of scrap tires into circular feedstocks, cost-competitive clean hydrogen production from industrial waste gases, and digital traceability in critical mineral and battery supply chains. Tony Wibbeler of Bolder Industries explained how automation standardizes tire depolymerization, ensuring product quality and enabling workforce development despite the lack of an established labor pipeline. This approach supports regulatory shifts that increase producer responsibility and restrict tire-derived fuels, driving demand for domestic circular materials. Derek Kramer from Utility Global highlighted how policy pressures, especially in Europe and Asia, are shaping
energyhydrogendepolymerizationautomationlow-carboncircular-economyrenewable-energyPersistence on Fuel Cell EVs Surfaces In Japan, Germany, US
The article discusses the ongoing commitment to hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in Japan, Germany, and the United States, despite the growing dominance of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) market. BMW and Hyundai remain invested in fuel cell technology, viewing it as a viable segment for future profitability. BMW recently secured significant funding from the German government and the state of Bavaria—€191 million and €82 million respectively—to advance its HyPowerDrive hydrogen fuel cell program, which aims to develop fuel cell systems compatible with its battery EVs, targeting series production by 2028. Meanwhile, Hyundai continues to market its NEXO fuel cell EV in Japan. In the U.S., California maintains strong support for fuel cell EVs as part of its freight decarbonization strategy, despite the bankruptcy of Nikola, a heavy-duty fuel cell truck startup. The Texas-based company Hyroad Energy has acquired Nikola’s fleet of hydrogen fuel cell trucks and
energyfuel-cellelectric-vehicleshydrogenzero-emissionBMWHyundaiWhy Hydrogen Isn't Cutting Costs Like Solar or Batteries - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica explains why hydrogen is not achieving cost reductions comparable to solar panels or batteries, despite long-standing claims by hydrogen advocates. A key finding highlighted is that electrification reduces emissions about 80% more effectively than hydrogen across various use cases, and hydrogen’s overall climate benefits are marginal once losses and logistics are considered. The persistent argument that hydrogen will soon become cheap is challenged by a detailed cost analysis using the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) framework, which accounts for production, delivery, capital, operational costs, and electricity. Electricity costs alone constitute 60–70% of hydrogen’s total cost, with capital equipment and installation adding another 15–25%, while compression, transport, and storage make up the remainder. This cost structure means that even significant improvements in electrolyzer technology cannot drastically reduce hydrogen costs unless electricity becomes nearly free, which is unlikely. The article further discusses the operational dilemma of electrolyzers: running them only when electricity is cheap leads to low utilization
energyhydrogenelectrolyzerrenewable-energycost-analysisemissions-reductionLevelized-Cost-of-HydrogenHydrogen, Measured Properly: What 2,000 Projects Reveal About Its Climate Value - CleanTechnica
A comprehensive study published in Nature Energy by Terlouw et al analyzed around 2,000 hydrogen projects over 20 years, providing a rare life-cycle assessment of hydrogen’s climate impact. The study found that if all these projects were realized, hydrogen production would reach about 110 million tons annually, generating roughly 0.4 gigatons of emissions and offsetting between 0.2 and 1.1 gigatons of CO2. However, when compared to a future scenario focused on electrification, hydrogen’s climate benefits shrink by over 80%. The researchers conclude that hydrogen’s best use is replacing existing “dirty” hydrogen in industrial sectors like fertilizer, refining, and methanol production, rather than expanding into new applications where electrification is more efficient. The study highlights steel, biofuels, and ammonia as sectors where hydrogen offers the most significant climate returns, due to its unique role in chemical processes that electricity alone cannot replace. Yet even in steelmaking, hydrogen-based direct
energyhydrogenclimate-changerenewable-energyindustrial-applicationsemissionsclean-technologyMusings About The Dutch Electric Grid In 2050 — Part 1 - CleanTechnica
The article "Musings About The Dutch Electric Grid In 2050 — Part 1" explores potential future scenarios for the Netherlands' energy infrastructure by 2050, acknowledging the uncertainty inherent in long-term predictions. The author anticipates a warmer climate that falls short of catastrophic levels and emphasizes that the energy transition should focus on meeting final energy demand rather than simply replacing primary energy inputs. A key insight is the "primary energy fallacy," which highlights that much of the current primary energy input is lost before reaching useful consumption, particularly in fossil fuel use for transportation. Two main visions for the future energy system are presented. The first is a hybrid approach maintaining much of the current energy structure but incorporating synthetic fuels, hydrogen, and electricity, relying on emerging technologies expected within the next decade. This path is less disruptive politically and economically but results in a more expensive and less resilient system, favoring existing energy industry players. The second vision advocates for a radical "electrify everything" strategy, requiring new
energyelectric-gridenergy-transitionrenewable-energysynthetic-fuelshydrogenenergy-infrastructureBMW's German plant to get 'world’s first' direct hydrogen pipeline
BMW is set to become the first car manufacturer globally to receive hydrogen directly via pipeline at its Leipzig plant, marking a significant shift in its energy sourcing. The company has partnered with Mitnetz GAS and Ontras Gas Transport to build a 2-kilometer pipeline connection, expected to be operational by mid-2027. This will replace the current method of hydrogen delivery by truck in pressurized cylinders, enabling more extensive and efficient use of hydrogen, particularly in energy-intensive processes like paint shop dryers. The Leipzig facility has a long history of hydrogen innovation, including the introduction of the world’s first fuel-flexible burner in 2022 and a fleet of 230 hydrogen-powered forklifts and tugger trains in operation since 2013. The pipeline project is part of Germany’s broader hydrogen core network initiative, a planned 9,000-kilometer infrastructure aimed at linking hydrogen suppliers and users nationally and internationally by 2032. BMW’s early involvement promises greater supply stability and scalability, reinforcing the plant
energyhydrogenBMWmanufacturingindustrial-energyclean-energyhydrogen-pipelineBlue Threat: Will the EU's Hydrogen Policy Stay Green? - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the European Union's recently adopted Low-Carbon Fuels Delegated Act (DA), which finalizes the regulatory framework for renewable (RFNBO) and low-carbon hydrogen production. While the worst-case regulatory outcomes were avoided, the DA still underestimates the true climate impact of blue hydrogen, primarily due to reliance on outdated methane leakage data and insufficient accounting for midstream emissions such as LNG liquefaction, shipping, and regasification. Additionally, low-carbon electrolysis hydrogen benefits from more lenient rules compared to RFNBO hydrogen, potentially skewing the market and risking the entrenchment of high-emission hydrogen pathways under the "low-carbon" label. Transport & Environment (T&E) recommends that the EU strengthen safeguards by ensuring comprehensive lifecycle greenhouse gas accounting that includes upstream methane leakage and the short-term climate effects of methane. They also urge maintaining regulatory stability to encourage investor confidence and timely Final Investment Decisions for RFNBO projects. Furthermore, T&E emphasizes the importance of
energyhydrogenlow-carbon-fuelsEU-policyrenewable-energymethane-emissionsclean-energyMethanol’s Surprise Rise & Hydrogen’s Decline In Dutch Scenarios - CleanTechnica
The article presents a discussion among energy experts involved in planning the Netherlands' 2050 target grid scenario, focusing on the evolving roles of methanol and hydrogen in the country's energy transition. The conversation highlights a surprising rise in methanol's significance contrasted with a decline in hydrogen's projected use within Dutch energy scenarios. The experts emphasize practical approaches to decarbonization, particularly in the building sector, where electrification is prioritized alongside targeted fabric improvements to support efficient heat pump deployment without excessive capital expenditure. Key takeaways include the recognition that while deep building retrofits (e.g., full façade replacements) are costly and slow, incremental insulation measures—such as roof, cavity wall, and underfloor insulation—can optimize electrification efforts by enabling smaller heat pumps and reducing wasted investment. The dialogue also touches on the broader theme that systemic changes, like urban redesign and mass transit electrification, are necessary but will take decades and substantial investment, making interim solutions like electric vehicles and partial building upgrades essential. Overall,
energyhydrogenmethanolclean-energyenergy-transitionrenewable-energyclimate-actionElectrification Over Insulation: Why "Fabric First" Isn't Climate First - CleanTechnica
The article presents a conversation between Nigel Banks, Technical Director at Octopus Energy, and climate futurist Michael Barnard, focusing on the debate between "fabric first" building insulation strategies versus electrification for climate impact. Barnard, known for analyzing major climate change challenges across sectors like aviation, shipping, and construction materials, emphasizes evaluating solutions based on technical effectiveness, viability, cost, and social acceptance. His work includes decarbonizing building stocks through alternatives to traditional materials and low-carbon heating and cooling methods. During the discussion, Barnard critiques the "fabric first" approach, which prioritizes insulation and building envelope improvements before electrification, arguing that it may not be the most climate-effective strategy. Instead, he suggests that electrification, particularly using renewable energy sources, can offer a more impactful and scalable path to decarbonization. The conversation also touches on the importance of integrating economics, physics, and human behavior in climate solutions, highlighting that some transitions are nonlinear and unpredictable. Barnard’s
energysustainable-energydecarbonizationclimate-changebuilding-materialscross-laminated-timberhydrogenWhy Hydrogen Won’t Win The Zero-Carbon Steel Race - CleanTechnica
The article analyzes the economic viability of emerging low-carbon steelmaking technologies in light of slowed steel demand growth and heightened scrutiny on cost, carbon intensity, and feasibility. It highlights five key steelmaking routes, including hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) with carbon capture and storage (CCS), natural gas with CCS, and molten oxide electrolysis (MOE). The author emphasizes that realistic assumptions about electricity costs, fuel prices, and carbon policies are crucial for assessing these technologies’ prospects, using examples from Northeastern Europe and Australia to illustrate regional cost variations. A central conclusion is that hydrogen-based steelmaking is unlikely to achieve cost parity due to persistently high green hydrogen prices, which remain between $5 to $8 per kilogram in most developed countries and $3 to $4 in renewable-rich regions. This high cost stems from the inefficiencies and electricity intensity of electrolytic hydrogen production, storage, and compression. Earlier optimistic assumptions about rapidly falling hydrogen costs and free or nearly free renewable electricity have proven
energyhydrogensteelmakingcarbon-capturerenewable-energyelectrolyzerlow-carbon-technologiesEU Rules Out Production Aid In Blow To Battery & Cleantech Industry - CleanTechnica
The European Commission’s newly published state-aid rules, known as CISAF, have been criticized as a setback for the EU cleantech and battery industry. The rules maintain a ban on production aid—subsidies tied directly to units produced—despite the US successfully using such aid to build a competitive battery sector. While CISAF allows governments to take equity stakes in cleantech companies, eases aid for projects approved by the EU Innovation Fund, and conditions foreign automotive investment aid on intellectual property and skills transfer, these measures are viewed as insufficient to address the EU’s lack of competitiveness in cleantech manufacturing. Critics, including green group Transport & Environment (T&E), argue that the EU missed an opportunity to implement simple, predictable, and bankable production aid similar to the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was promised by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. T&E highlights that although €1.8 billion remains earmarked for batteries under the Innovation Fund, and there
energycleantechbattery-industryEU-regulationshydrogenstate-aidInnovation-FundFrance’s €520/Ton CO₂ Problem: Hydrogen Is Too Expensive For Transport - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the findings of a French audit on the economics of decarbonized hydrogen production via electrolysis, revealing that the cost of avoiding CO₂ emissions through this method is approximately €520 per ton. This figure far exceeds typical societal costs for CO₂ reduction technologies, highlighting that electrolytic hydrogen remains economically unviable without substantial public subsidies. France’s National Hydrogen Strategy (SNH2), launched in April 2025, aims to rapidly expand electrolytic hydrogen production with over €9 billion allocated for this purpose. However, the Cour des comptes report underscores that even optimistic assumptions about energy prices do not significantly improve the economic outlook, and the reported €9 billion in subsidies likely underestimates the true financial burden due to unaccounted infrastructure costs and indirect subsidies. The audit also reveals a complex web of overlapping subsidies that effectively lower the cost burden for hydrogen producers. These include mechanisms like the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which, by increasing carbon costs for fossil-fuel-based hydrogen
energyhydrogendecarbonizationelectrolyzersrenewable-energypublic-subsidiesCO2-reductionMIT turns seawater, soda cans into 90% cleaner hydrogen fuel
hydrogenclean-energysustainable-technologyaluminum-recyclingcarbon-footprintgreen-hydrogenrenewable-energyWorld’s strongest stellarator hits 43-second fusion plasma milestone
energyfusionplasmaWendelstein-7-Xclean-energyhydrogenstellaratorBeyond the Hydrogen Mirage: A Candid Conversation with Joe Romm - CleanTechnica
energyhydrogencarbon-capturesustainabilityclimate-solutionsmethaneclean-technologyToyota’s liquid hydrogen car conquers Fuji 24-hr race with 468 laps
energyhydrogenfuel-efficiencyautomotive-technologyracing-innovationliquid-hydrogenToyota-Gazoo-RacingUltra-thin membrane unlocks 20% cheaper, greener hydrogen fuel power
hydrogenfuel-cellsenergymembrane-technologysustainabilitycost-reductiongreen-technologyIPHE Rejects Science On Hydrogen’s Indirect Warming, Raising Credibility Concerns - CleanTechnica
energyhydrogenclimate-changegreenhouse-gasclean-energyIPHEsustainabilityLondon-New York in 45 mins: New hypersonic jet could fly 7x speed of sound
materialsenergyhypersonicaviationhydrogenaerospacetechnologyFrom Coal Dominance To Renewables: How Poland Changed Its Energy Story - CleanTechnica
energyrenewable-energyhydrogenenergy-transitionPolanddecarbonizationelectricity-gridNikola’s hydrogen trucks hit the auction block
hydrogentrucksauctionenergyfuel-cellNikolatransportationThe Hype Returns: Joe Romm & Michael Barnard Revisit Hydrogen, 20 Years Later
energyhydrogenclimate-changesustainabilityclean-technologyemissions-reductionrenewable-energyPhân tích vai trò hydrogen trong quá trình khử carbon ngành lọc hóa dầu và công nghiệp nặng
energyhydrogencarbon-reductionindustrial-emissionsclean-energyenergy-transitionlow-emission-hydrogenWill Hydrogen Fuel Cell Trucks Just Follow The Hydrogen Car Storyline?
hydrogenfuel-cellstrucksbattery-electricenergytransportationclean-technologyHySpeed Green Hydrogen Play Will Lead To Stranded Assets & Fiscal Losses
energyhydrogendecarbonizationgreen-energyrenewable-energyinfrastructureemissions-reductionCalifornia’s New Hydrogen Subsidy Sinkhole: 13 Cars, Millions Spent, Negative Impact
energyhydrogenclean-transportationzero-emission-vehiclesCaliforniasubsidiescarsharingTriển vọng và thách thức của hydrogen phát thải thấp trong chiến lược chuyển đổi năng lượng toàn cầu
energyhydrogenrenewable-energygreenhouse-gas-reductionenergy-transitioncarbon-capturelow-emission-technologyPipelines To Nowhere: The Real Costs Of TMX & The Dutch Hydrogen Network
energyhydrogeninfrastructurepipelinesCanadaNetherlandsmegaprojectsHydrogen’s Harsh Reality: Plug Power, Ballard, and FuelCell Near the End?
energyhydrogenfuel-cellsPlug-PowerCleanTechsustainabilityfinancial-analysis