Regional Outlook

Most industry analysts forecast a stark rise in H₂ demand over the next 25 yr. According to the International Energy Agency, global H₂ demand was approximately 91 MMt in 2021. Several industry forecasts show global H₂ production reaching anywhere between 300 MMtpy and 650 MMtpy by 2050.

Although H₂ generation through electrolysis is well established, the financial viability of producing green H₂ is the global target. H₂ production cost primarily depends on the efficiency of electrolyzers and the cost of power consumed in the H₂ generation process.

Through a series of interviews and consultations with >100 market players, both global and local, various factors were assessed to determine the city's potential as a H₂ hub and equipment manufacturer and confirm Houston’s strengths and growth opportunities for providing the “picks and shovels” of the green H₂ gold rush, including businesses with relevance to the supply chain, companies integrating components for large-scale electrolyzer systems, and public authorities and institutions needed to create supportive conditions. 

As the WEF states, green H₂ is the only variety produced in a climate-neutral manner. Traditional methods using coal gasification produce the highest emissions. The black H₂ production process uses bituminous coal while brown H₂ production uses lignite coal. Both produce carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. 

In this three-part article series, the authors will examine the economic factors, regulatory and policy trends, and technical and strategic challenges facing the energy industry, exploring how advances in automation and collaboration among stakeholders are improving efficiency, reliability and safety across the entire H₂ value chain, from production to transmission to consumption. 

Some countries have begun working on frameworks to rival that of the IRA, while others struggle to make concrete plans. A common trend among various countries is the integration of H₂ into their energy mixes. The energy transition is underway, but what specifics are nations planning to achieve in the coming years?

When it comes to the benefits that an integrated security solution offers to suppliers in the energy sector, the first topic of discussion is almost always centered on minimizing risk to physical site assets and data. In the event of a security breach, these areas can become victims of significant and widespread disruption, as well as financial and reputational loss to the business.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), more than 1.2 MM km of natural gas transmission pipelines have been installed worldwide, and approximately another 200,000 km are under construction or in pre-construction development. This infrastructure holds the potential to be repurposed for H₂ transport.

International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is celebrated worldwide on June 23 every year to honor women in the engineering field. H₂Tech (H₂T) sat down with Paula Fitzpatrick (PF), VP of Projects for the U.S., at Kent for an exclusive Q&A in celebration of INWED.