Is it wrong to pin our hopes on hydrogen?

As funding grows and the fossil fuel industry promotes the fuel, concerns have arisen over its clean credentials

- Nina Lakhani

Hydrogen is the smallest, lightest and most abundant molecule in the universe. On Earth, it does not occur by itself naturally, but can be separated from water (H2O) or hydrocarbon compounds (fossil fuels) such as gas, coal and petroleum to be used as an energy source. It’s already used for rocket fuel, but is now being pushed as a clean and safe alternative to oil and gas for heating and earthly transport. Political support is mounting with almost $26bn of US taxpayer money available for hydrogen projects . Hydrogen is politically hot, but is it the climate solution its cheerleaders claim?

Why all the hype about hydrogen?

 The fossil fuel industry sees hydrogen as a way to keep on drilling and building new infrastructure, and has successfully deployed its PR and lobbying machines to get policymakers thinking that hydrogen is a catch-all climate solution. Research by climate scientists (without fossil fuel links) has debunked industry claims that hydrogen should be a major player , though hydrogen extracted from water (using renewable energy sources) could – and should – play an important role in replacing the dirtiest hydrogen currently extracted from fossil fuels. It may also have a role in fuelling some transportation, such as long-haul flights and vintage cars, but the evidence is far from clear.

What’s the difference between blue, grey, brown, pink and green hydrogen?