Is hydrogen fuel really the clean energy solution it's been promised to be?

The answer

Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, emitting only water vapor. The challenge is production: 95% of current hydrogen ("grey hydrogen") comes from natural gas reforming, producing significant CO₂. "Green hydrogen," made by electrolyzing water using renewable electricity, is the clean alternative but costs $4–6 per kilogram versus $1–2 for grey hydrogen. In 2024, the European Union committed €3 billion to its hydrogen strategy, and the US Inflation Reduction Act offers a $3/kg production tax credit for clean hydrogen. Toyota's Mirai fuel cell vehicle achieves 400-mile range with 5-minute refueling. For heavy industry, Swedish company SSAB produced the world's first fossil-free steel using green hydrogen in 2021. The International Energy Agency projects green hydrogen costs could fall below $2/kg by 2030 as electrolyzer manufacturing scales up.