A train powered by fuel cells which convert hydrogen to electricity, in Wolfsburg, Germany. Whether hydrogen will be the crucial piece of the puzzle to reduce greenhouse gases or an overpriced, overhyped distraction is still being debated.
Photographer: Peter Steffen/dpa/picture alliance/Getty Images
Is The World’s Green Hydrogen Dream Fizzling Out?
Green hydrogen was meant to clean up dirty sectors like steel and shipping. But costs are high, investment is falling, and projects are stalling. Is it the fuel of the future — or a climate bet gone bad?
The basic strategy in the fight to limit climate change is to power everything with electricity generated from wind, solar or other clean sources.
But there’s a problem: Some things can’t easily run on electricity. Think steel mills, cement plants and long-distance passenger jets. They need a clean fuel that can be stored and burned, sometimes at high temperatures. This is where green hydrogen comes in. Depending on who you ask, this controversial technology is either a crucial piece of the puzzle to reduce greenhouse gases or an overpriced, overhyped distraction.