Report outlines ways to meet global demand for clean hydrogen by 2030
- contact88196
- Aug 12
- 1 min read
A study by the Hydrogen Council, in partnership with McKinsey & Co., projects that by 2030 it will be possible to unlock a large portion of the demand for clean hydrogen in the European Union, the United States, and East Asia, provided existing policies are effectively implemented. According to the report "Hydrogen: Closing the Cost Gap," approximately 8 million tons per year could be made viable with practical incentive and cost reduction measures, even given the challenging energy transition scenario.
Specific Policies and Strategic Infrastructure as Market Catalysts
The study indicates that the transposition of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII), the application of Contracts for Difference in Japan, the Clean Hydrogen Portfolio Standard in South Korea, and the implementation of the hydrogen provisions of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) could reduce production costs or mandate its use. These actions, combined, would sustain initial demand and pave the way for accelerated market growth.
Beyond the initial volumes, another 13 million tons per year could be incorporated through incremental infrastructure improvements and further cost reductions, especially for already established uses such as refining and ammonia production. The expansion of carbon capture and storage in the US and the advancement of emerging sectors such as trucking, shipping, and aviation will require coordinated investments in supply infrastructure and technological innovation. Of the 34 million tons per year mapped in the report, 75% come from established uses and 25% from new sectors, confirming that decisions made this decade will be decisive for the role of clean hydrogen in global decarbonization.
