In its latest report Collaborative Framework on Green Hydrogen IRENA assesses progress in green hydrogen deployment. The report gauges the success achieved to date in translating green hydrogen strategies and plans into actions – particularly in the context of green hydrogen supply and demand structures.
Green hydrogen and its derivatives are key to achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century, contributing 12% of emissions abatements and would 14% of final energy consumption by 2050 in IRENA’s 1.5°C Scenario. That alone requires a build-up of electrolyser capacity from negligible numbers today to 5 722 GW by 2050. Accelerated deployment of green hydrogen and its derivates is therefore required, alongside efforts to foster strong off-take signals.
IRENA’s Collaborative Framework on Green Hydrogen developed this report to provide key insights on challenges and solutions for both supply and demand. It also identifies blind spots that require further attention, and reflects essential insights gathered from IRENA’s member countries and experts.
The report on the global deployment of green hydrogen, aimed at accelerating the energy transition towards a sustainable future. This report highlights significant advancements and challenges in green hydrogen deployment, focusing on creating robust supply and demand structures, policy frameworks, and international cooperation.
Report Highlights
Global Green Hydrogen Strategies:
Many countries have introduced green hydrogen strategies to address the emissions gap and to enhance their energy security. The report emphasizes that green hydrogen and its derivatives are crucial for achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century, especially in sectors where direct renewable electrification is not feasible. “Green hydrogen can help reduce the decarbonization gap.”
Scaling Up Electrolyser Capacity
The IRENA 2024 report underscores the pressing need to drastically enhance electrolyser capacity to address the growing demand for green hydrogen. Currently minimal, the capacity is projected to reach 5,722 gigawatts by the year 2050 to align with the objectives of the 1.5°C Scenario. The report emphasizes, “That alone would require scaling up electrolyser capacity from negligible numbers today to 5,722 gigawatts in 2050.”
Economic and Industrial Opportunities
Green hydrogen is heralded as a transformative element for both industrialized and developing nations, providing a pathway to net-zero emissions. It also holds promise as a catalyst for industrial development in regions abundant in renewable resources. As stated in the report, “Green hydrogen and derivatives give highly industrialized countries opportunities to transform their industries.”
Policy and Regulatory Frameworks
The development of effective policy and regulatory frameworks is crucial for the advancement of green hydrogen. The IRENA report highlights the critical role of international cooperation in establishing uniform standards and certifications that will enable the global trade of green hydrogen. It notes, “International collaboration is needed to share best practices and also the lessons learned along the way.” (IRENA, 2024).
Challenges in Deployment
Despite notable advancements, the deployment of green hydrogen faces significant challenges, especially related to the high costs of production and the extensive investments required in technology and infrastructure. The report reflects on these challenges, stating, “The implementation of green hydrogen strategies has been accelerating globally, but it remains challenging to assess the practical execution of these initiatives and their actual impact on the hydrogen market and climate goals.”
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