BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23. The annual output of low-emission hydrogen has the potential to exceed 20 million metric tons in 2030, Trend reports.
As the International Energy Agency (IEA), this will be achieved assuming the successful completion of all the projects that have been announced for hydrogen production through water electrolysis and fossil fuels with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).
This also marks a significant increase compared to the Global Hydrogen Review 2022, which projected 16 million metric tons of hydrogen production by 2030, the IEA noted. This implies a remarkable growth of over 30 percent in the number of announced low-emission hydrogen production projects within just one year.
By the year 2030, approximately 50 percent of the hydrogen generated from the projects that have been announced originates from initiatives currently undergoing feasibility studies, the agency's research says. Following closely are projects in their nascent phases, accounting for over 45 percent of the anticipated production levels. Projects presently under construction or having received a final investment decision (FID) constitute merely 4 percent of the announced projects concerning production. Among these projects, nearly half are associated with established hydrogen applications in refineries and the chemical industry.
At the same time, electrolysis projects take the lead among the declared hydrogen production initiatives, potentially contributing to over 70 percent of low-emission hydrogen production in 2030, the report says.
Nevertheless, more than half (55 percent) of these announced electrolysis projects are still in their early developmental phases, the IEA noted. Considering the time required for further project development, concerted efforts in the coming years will be essential to ensure their readiness for operation by 2030.