Part of the Goa Global Sustainability Summit, to be held in Goa, India, on 29th-30th April 2027
Background and Context
Hydrogen is emerging as a cornerstone of the global energy transition, offering a versatile, zero-emission energy carrier capable of decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify directly. These include heavy industry (steel, cement, chemicals), long-haul transport (shipping, aviation, heavy-duty trucks), and seasonal energy storage. As a clean fuel, hydrogen has the potential to play a transformative role in achieving net-zero emissions targets worldwide.
The global hydrogen market is at a key inflection point. Over 40 countries have now released national hydrogen strategies, and the number of announced hydrogen projects continues to grow exponentially. Investment in the sector is projected to reach trillions of dollars over the coming decades, driven by policy support and the urgent need for climate action.
The production of hydrogen, however, is currently dominated by fossil-fuel-based methods ("grey" hydrogen), which generate significant CO2 emissions. Scaling up low-carbon hydrogen production—through electrolysis using renewable energy ("green" hydrogen) or fossil fuels with carbon capture, utilization, and storage ("blue" hydrogen)—is the central technological challenge. Associated infrastructure (production, storage, transport, and distribution) remains a major barrier to widespread adoption.
Governments are actively creating incentive programs and industrial policy to accelerate the hydrogen economy. India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, for example, is a flagship initiative aiming to make the country a global hub for green hydrogen production and export, highlighting the strategic and economic importance of the sector for energy security and sustainable development.
The Modern Need for Hydrogen
In industrial decarbonization, hydrogen is essential for reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors. It can replace coal and natural gas as a reducing agent in steelmaking, a feedstock in chemical production (e.g., ammonia, methanol), and a high-temperature heat source for industrial processes.
In energy storage and grid resilience, hydrogen offers a solution for long-duration energy storage, balancing grids with high penetration of variable renewable energy (solar and wind). It can store excess renewable energy for weeks or months and be converted back to electricity or heat when needed [Link to a relevant report, e.g., from the European Commission].
In transportation, hydrogen fuel cells provide a clean, high-energy-density alternative for heavy-duty, long-range transport, including trucks, buses, trains, ships, and aircraft, where battery-electric solutions face limitations in terms of weight, range, and charging time.
