Shaping sustainable international hydrogen value chains

© IRENA 2024 Unless otherwise stated, material in this publication may be freely used, shared, copied, reproduced, printed and/or stored, providedthat appropriate acknowledgement is given of IRENA as the source and copyright holder. Material in this publication that is attributedto third parties may be subject to separate terms of use and restrictions, and appropriate permissions from these third parties may needto be secured before any use of such material. ISBN: 978-92-9260-616-9 Citation:IRENA (2024),Shaping sustainable international hydrogen value chains, International Renewable EnergyAgency, Abu Dhabi. Available for download:www.irena.org/publications For further information or to provide feedback, please contact IRENA atinfo@irena.org. About IRENA The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countriesin their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international co-operation,a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewableenergy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, includingbioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development,energy access, energy security and clean economic growth and prosperity.www.irena.org Acknowledgements This report was authored by Ann-Kathrin Lipponer, Emanuele Bianco and Arno van den Bos, under the guidance ofFrancisco Boshell, Ute Collier and Roland Roesch (Director, IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre). Valuable input was also provided by IRENA colleagues: Arno van den Bos, Luis Janeiro, James Walker, GondiaSokhna Seck, Michael Renner, Asami Miketa, Raul Miranda, Danial Saleem, Kenji Kato and Abdullah Fahad. This report benefitted from the input and comments of experts, including Maximilian Kuhn (Hydrogen Europe),Magnolia Tovar (Clean Air Task Force), Frank Mischler (GIZ), Herib Blanco (McKinsey & Company), Dolf Gielen(World Bank), Oghosa Erhahon (RIFS), Greg Dolan (Methanol Institute), Smeeta Fokeer (UNIDO), Paulo Partidario(DGEG), Deger Saygin and Joseph Cordonnier (OECD), Markus Albuscheit, Ralf Ott, Dominik Bruckner, and MarynaHritsyshyna (Hydrogenious), IRENA focal point for the Collaborative Framework on Green Hydrogen Colombia(Maria Carolina Nocua). Publications and editorial support were provided by Francis Field and Stephanie Clarke, with design byPhoenixDesignAid. The report was edited by Jon Gorvett. IRENA is grateful for the support received from the Government of Japan to produce this report. Disclaimer This publication and the material herein are provided “as is”. All reasonable precautions have been taken by IRENA to verify thereliability of the material in this publication. However, neither IRENA nor any of its officials, agents, data or other third-party contentproviders provides a warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, and they accept no responsibility or liability for any consequenceof use of the publication or material herein. The information contained herein does not necessarily represent the views of all Members of IRENA. The mention of specific companiesor certain projects or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by IRENA in preference to others of a similarnature that are not mentioned. The designations employed and the presentation of material herein do not imply the expression of anyopinion on the part of IRENA concerning the legal status of any region, country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerningthe delimitation of frontiers or boundaries. Cover photos: © kittirat roekburi/Shutterstock.com, © Audio und werbung/Shutterstock.com and © A3pfamily/Shutterstock..com CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS.....................................................................................................................5EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................6RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................................................8 1.INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................12 1.1Developing sustainable international hydrogen value chains............................................121.2Scope of the report..................................................................................................................14 2.HYDROGEN PRODUCTION AND DEMAND: NOW AND IN THE FUTURE...............................16 2.1Current and future global hydrogen demand and its implications for trade.....................162.2Potential for global renewable hydrogen production...........................................................19 3.ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF RENEWABLE HYDROGEN PRODUCTION............................23 3