How much green hydrogen do we really need?

From home heating to aviation, hydrogen is a much-hyped future fuel that is being promoted as a way to decarbonise almost everything right now. But what type should we be using and how can we use it in the most effective way?

We set up the Skies and Seas Hydrogen-fuels Accelerator (SASHA) Coalition to unify aviation and shipping companies to raise awareness of the vital role of hydrogen in the decarbonisation of these two sectors.

So calling for more hydrogen is something that we strongly believe in - but it comes with some significant caveats. First, we don’t need too much green hydrogen - and second, it needs to be the right colour (i.e. green).

Green hydrogen is an extremely nuanced and technical discussion. Beware anyone who says “hydrogen for everything” or “never hydrogen” – it will have a role, but it must be green hydrogen and it must only go to sectors that need it. And even then, only after they have reduced their energy demand as much as possible.

I look at this in more detail this month over on the SASHA website in my latest blog, 5 reasons why we need hydrogen (but not too much and only the right colour).