Policy & Socio-Economics

In response to growing environmental concerns hydrogen production has emerged as a critical element in the transition to a sustainable global economy. We evaluate the impact of hydrogen production on both the financial performance and market value of energy sector companies using balanced panel data from 288 European-listed firms over the period of 2018 to 2022. The findings reveal a paradox. While hydrogen production imposes significant financial constraints it is positively recognized by market participants. Despite short-term financial challenges companies engaged in hydrogen production experience higher market value as investors view these activities as a long-term growth opportunity aligned with global sustainability goals. We contribute to the literature by offering empirical evidence on the financial outcomes and market valuation of hydrogen engagement distinguishing between production and storage activities and further categorizing production into green blue and gray hydrogen. By examining these nuances we highlight the complex relationship between financial market results. While hydrogen production may negatively impact short-term financial performance its potential for long-term value creation driven by decarbonization efforts and sustainability targets makes it attractive to investors. Ultimately this study provides valuable insights into how hydrogen engagement shapes corporate strategies within the evolving European energy landscape.

This perspective sheds light on emerging research priorities crucial for advancing the low-carbon hydrogen sector considered critical for achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions targets especially for hard-to-abate sectors. Our analysis follows a five-step process including drawing from news media academic discourse and expert consultations. We identify twenty-one major research challenges. Among the top priorities highlighted by experts are: (i) Evaluating the trade-offs of hydrogen-fueled power generation compared to hydrocarbon fuels and renewables with alternative storage solutions and the feasibility of co-firing hydrogen and ammonia with hydrocarbon fuels for backup or independent power generation; (ii) Exploring how global hydrogen trade could be shaped by market forces such as price volatility geopolitical dynamics and international collaborations; (iii) Examining the financial considerations for investors from developed nations pursuing hydrogen projects in resource-rich developing countries balancing costs investment risks and expected returns. We find statistically significant differences in opinions on hydrogen/ammonia co-firing for power generation between experts from China and those from the U.S. and Germany.

Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) represent an intriguing alternative to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). While the acceptance of BEVs has been widely discussed acceptance-based recommendations for promoting adoption of FCVs remain ambiguous. This paper aims to improve our understanding by reporting results from a pioneer study based on the standardized Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2). The sample consists of n1 = 258 registered customers of H2mobility in Germany. For effect control another n2 = 294 participant sample was drawn from the baseline population. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS 4 and importance-performance mapping (IPMA). Results demonstrate that FCV acceptance primarily relies on Perceived Usefulness Perceived Conditions and Normative Influence while surprisingly hypotheses involving Perceived Risk and Green Attitude are rejected. Finally a discussion reveals ways to increase the level of public acceptance. Three practical strategies emerge. For future acceptance analyses the authors suggest incorporating the young concept of ‘societal readiness’.

To address the issue of excessive pessimism caused by demand and supply uncertainties in the green hydrogen supply chain this study develops a two-tier green hydrogen supply chain model comprising upstream hydrogen production stations and downstream hydrogen refueling stations. This research work investigates optimal ordering and production strategies under stochastic demand and supply conditions. Additionally option contracts are introduced to share the risks associated with the stochastic output of green hydrogen. This study shows the following: (1) Under decentralized decision-making the optimal ordering quantity when the hydrogen refueling station is excessively pessimistic is not necessarily lower than the optimal ordering quantity when it is in a rational state and hydrogen production stations will only operate when the degree of excessive pessimism is relatively low. (2) The initial option ordering quantity is always larger than the minimum execution quantity under the option contract; higher first-order option prices and lower second-order option prices can help to increase the initial option ordering quantity. (3) The option contract is effective in circumventing the negative impact of excessive pessimism at hydrogen production stations on planned production quantities. This study addresses the gap in the existing research regarding excessively pessimistic behaviors and the application of option contracts within the green hydrogen supply chain providing both theoretical insights and practical guidance for decision-making optimization. This advancement further promotes the sustainable development of the green hydrogen industry.

Blue hydrogen is one of the energy carriers to be adopted by the United Kingdom to reduce emissions to net Zero by 2050 and its use is majorly influenced by policy and technological innovations. With more than 10 blue hydrogen facilities planning productive offtake from 2025 there is an urgent need to confirm the viability of these proposed facilities to aid decarbonisation and the path to conformity to policy regulation. This study discovers that the Acorn blue hydrogen facility can produce blue hydrogen within the low carbon hydrogen standard set by the United Kingdom’s government. In this study a detailed examination of hydrogen production techniques is conducted using lifecycle assessment (LCA) approach aimed to understand the environmental impact of producing 144 tons of hydrogen per day using Acorn hydrogen facility as a case study. This was followed on with sensitive analysis embracing steam and oxygen consumption and methane leakages the ability of the facility meeting the low carbon hydrogen standard economics and the externality-priced production costs that embody the environmental impact. A gate-to-gate LCA shows that the Acorn hydrogen plant must aim at carbon capture rates of >90% to meet the set UK target of 20 gCO2e/MJLHV. The study further identifies from literature that the autothermal reforming (ATR) system with integrated carbon capture and storage (CCS) production technology as the most environmentally sustainable technology at present in comparison to commercially available options studied. This assessment helps to appraise potentially unintended causes and effects of the production of blue hydrogen that should aid future policy guidance and investments.

The current global energy environment is experiencing a substantial shift towards minimizing carbon emissions and enhancing sustainability due to persistent problems. Demand for sustainable end-to-end energy solutions has boosted green hydrogen as the solution to decarbonize the world. The current study has identified and evaluated 7 main criteria of 27 sub-criteria for enabling the hydrogen supply Chains for decarbonization using the Fuzzy DEMATEL technique. The results show that the most prominent enablers criteria under causal factors are: cluster-based approach for developing a green hub Cost and investment decisions Hydrogen trade policy and regulatory actions and Technology. The effect group factors include: Assessment of ecological concerns- Ecology effect Availability of Energy sources and Awareness and public outreach. This study offers insights to understand the dynamics of the hydrogen supply chains and its way ahead towards decarbonization and transition towards a low-carbon economy. This research helps various academic and industrial stakeholders to give pace to green hydrogen uptake as a vital decarbonization tool and act as a base for strategic and collaborative decisions for a resilient and responsible energy landscape.

Green hydrogen is emerging as a key driver in global decarbonization efforts particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as steel manufacturing ammonia production and long-distance transportation. This study evaluates the techno-economic and environmental aspects of green hydrogen production storage and integration with renewable energy systems. Electrolysis remains the dominant production method with efficiency rates ranging from 70–80% for Alkaline Electrolyzers (AEL) 75–85% for Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers (PEMEL) and up to 90% for Solid Oxide Electrolyzers (SOEL). Capital costs are steadily decreasing with AEL costs falling from $1200/kW in 2018 to $800/kW in 2024 while PEMEL costs are projected to decline to $600/kW by 2030. Green hydrogen significantly reduces carbon emissions with a footprint of 0.5–1 kg CO₂ per kg of H₂ compared to 10–12 kg for gray hydrogen and 1–3 kg for blue hydrogen. Its potential to cut global CO₂ emissions by 6 gigatons annually by 2050 underscores its role in climate action. However its high water demand—approximately 9 liters per kilogram of hydrogen—necessitates efficient management strategies such as desalination and recycling. Economically green hydrogen is becoming more competitive with its levelized cost decreasing from $6/kg in 2018 to $3–4/kg in 2024 and projections indicating a further drop to $1.50/kg by 2030. Global investments exceeding $500 billion in 2024 along with major projects like Saudi Arabia's NEOM Green Hydrogen Project and Australia's Asian Renewable Energy Hub are accelerating adoption. Policy frameworks such as the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act further support deployment. Despite progress challenges remain in infrastructure storage and regulatory frameworks necessitating continued innovation and international collaboration. Green hydrogen aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) SDG 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). As the world transitions to a low-carbon economy green hydrogen presents a transformative opportunity contingent on sustained technological advancements investment and policy support.

Rising population and rapid development in Africa have led to growing energy demands that exceed current supply underscoring the urgent need for expanded and reliable energy access. As the global agenda shifts toward sustainability integrating renewable energy sources presents a viable pathway to address these shortages. This study explores the energy landscape policies and transition strategies of five Southern African countries using Multi-Level Perspective theory and energy systems analysis to examine the dynamics of their energy transitions. Findings highlight the significant potential of green hydrogen solar wind and hydropower to supplement conventional fuels especially in energy-intensive sectors while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate impacts. The application of Multi-Level Perspective theory underscores the importance of managing interactions between niche innovations existing socio-technical regimes and broader landscape pressures to support systemic transformation. The transition to renewable energy will also impact the future of coal mining shaped by policy frameworks resource distribution technological developments and market trends. However several persistent barriers must be overcome these include limited access to energy high capital costs poverty political and economic instability regulatory inefficiencies and gaps in technical expertise. Achieving a successful and inclusive energy transition in Southern Africa will require strategic planning policy alignment stakeholder engagement and targeted support for vulnerable sectors. Ensuring that the process is sustainable equitable and just is essential to realizing long-term regional energy security and economic resilience.

Climate change will impact the affordability and independence of household green hydrogen systems due to shifting climate patterns and more frequent extreme events. However quantifying these impacts remains challenging because of the complex interactions among climate building characteristics and energy systems in urban environments. This study presents an integrated modeling platform that couples regional climate projections building energy performance simulations and energy system optimization to assess long-term climate impacts across four representative Canadian cities from 2010 to 2090. The results indicate that cooling-dominated cities may face up to a 50 % increase in energy costs and an 20 % rise in grid dependency whereas heating-dominated cities may experience cost reductions of up to 20 % and a 35 % decrease in grid reliance. Although climatealigned system designs cannot fully mitigate climate-induced performance variations they influence levelized cost of energy increasing it by up to 60 % in cooling-dominated cities but improving it by over 5 % in heatingdominated ones. These findings suggest that enhancing grid connectivity may be a more effective strategy than modifying system designs in cooling-dominated regions whereas adaptive design strategies offer greater benefits in heating-dominated areas.

The global shift toward a green hydrogen economy requires diversifying production beyond the Middle East and North Africa where political logistical and water constraints limit long-term supply. This study provides a comparative socio-economic assessment of Sub-Saharan African and South American countries focusing on their readiness for large-scale green hydrogen development. A Green Economy Index (GEI) was developed integrating political/regulatory efficiency socio-economic status infrastructure and sustainability indicators. In addition public perception was examined through a survey conducted in Nigeria. Results show GEI scores ranging from 0.328 to 0.744 with Germany as the benchmark. Brazil Uruguay and Namibia emerge as the most promising cases due to strong renewable energy potential socio-economic stability and supportive policies though each faces specific challenges such as transport logistics (Brazil and Uruguay) or water scarcity (Namibia). Nigeria demonstrates significant potential but is constrained by weak infrastructure and public safety concerns. Cameroon Angola and Gabon display moderate performance but require policy and investment reforms. By combining macro-level readiness analysis with social acceptance insights the study highlights opportunities and barriers for diversifying global hydrogen supply chains and advancing sustainable energy transitions in emerging regions.