The Bumpy Road to Hydrogen: Progress and Challenges in the U.S. Fuel Industry
Key Ideas
  • Hydrogen production in the U.S. has grown significantly, with various industries utilizing hydrogen for different applications, although the transportation sector, particularly trucking, has been slow to adopt.
  • A rising interest in hydrogen as a fuel source is observed in challenging-to-electrify sectors like aviation and shipping, with airlines like United and Delta considering transitioning their fleets to sustainable fuels.
  • Efforts are being made in the trucking industry to embrace hydrogen fuel, with the development of hydrogen fuel cell EVs and combustion-powered vehicles, as well as the provision of electrolyzers for hydrogen refueling stations by companies like Accelera.
  • Despite advancements, the U.S. still primarily produces 'gray hydrogen' with high greenhouse gas emissions, but plans for blue hydrogen facilities, like Air Products’ Louisiana Clean Energy Complex and Exxon Mobil’s Baytown facility, aim to reduce carbon intensity and create job opportunities.
The U.S. has seen substantial growth in hydrogen production, with industries like petroleum and chemicals utilizing hydrogen for various purposes. However, the transportation industry, especially trucking, has been slow to adopt hydrogen fuel despite its increasing availability. There is a growing interest in using hydrogen in challenging-to-electrify sectors like aviation and shipping, with major airlines showing intent to transition to sustainable fuels. Companies in the trucking industry are making strides by developing hydrogen-powered vehicles and providing infrastructure like electrolyzers for refueling stations. While most hydrogen produced in the U.S. is carbon-intensive 'gray hydrogen,' there are plans for blue hydrogen facilities like Air Products’ Louisiana Clean Energy Complex and Exxon Mobil’s Baytown facility to reduce emissions. Policy support, such as tax incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act, is crucial for furthering hydrogen production and transitioning to cleaner fuel sources.
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