An abundant fuel, with disruptive potential Low-carbon hydrogen is poised to play a key role in hard-to-abate energy applications. For global hydrogen markets to emerge, however, massive scale-up is needed across production pathways using both renewable and fossil-based feedstocks, and transport costs need to come down Clean hydrogen project proposals have proliferated since 2020, with the first electrolyzers now coming online. Some 307 MW of electrolysis capacity – around 40,000 mt/year of new hydrogen production – were installed globally in 2022, including 224 MW in China and 83 MW in the rest of the world, according to S&P Global. Total global announced low-carbon capacity rose to 67 million mt/year, 86% of current incumbent pure hydrogen demand. European nations with strong gas industries and offshore carbon storage potential (Norway, the UK) are backing CCS technologies for production of natural gas-based hydrogen, while those with lower carbon power systems (Germany, Spain, France) tend to favor electrolysis for renewable hydrogen. Electrolysis projects are also planned where renewables are abundant and export potential enticing, such as in the Middle East, Australia or Chile.