Nearly 2,000 Hydrogen projects worldwide: IEA’s interactive tools give snapshot on progress, costs – GWC Mag

The IEA has released new interactive data tools to track the development of low-emissions hydrogen production around the world. They provide a snapshot of progress on hydrogen production, with data on almost 2,000 projects that are either already in operation or have been announced. Most projects to date are concentrated in Europe and Australia, with a growing number planned in Africa, China, India, Latin America and the U.S. One of the tools allow users to assess the levelised cost of hydrogen production from solar PV and onshore wind in different locations worldwide. You can adjust assumptions about costs (e.g. the cost of capital) to visualise different outlooks. The IEA says project announcements are growing rapidly, and urges governments to create the policies to stimulate demand, overcome delays in implementing support schemes, and address regulatory barriers that hamper scale-up.

In November we released two interactive data tools that allow users to explore developments related to low-emissions hydrogen projects worldwide. The data tools complement the Global Hydrogen Review 2023, published in September, and the updated hydrogen production and infrastructure projects databases, which were released in October.

Momentum is increasing around low-emissions hydrogen as a way to boost energy security and support decarbonisation in sectors where emissions are hard to abate and alternative solutions are either unavailable or difficult to implement, such as heavy industry and long-distance transport.

Approaching 2,000 projects: a snapshot of progress on Hydrogen production

The first of the new data tools released today is an interactive map of low-emissions hydrogen production projects around the world. This provides a snapshot of progress on hydrogen production, with data on almost 2,000 projects that are either already in operation or have been announced. It shows that most projects to date are concentrated in Europe and Australia, but a growing number are planned in Africa, China, India, Latin America and the United States.

Levelised cost of Hydrogen production from Solar and Wind

Secondly, we have launched a new interactive tool to allow users to assess the levelised cost of hydrogen production from solar PV and onshore wind in different locations worldwide. Based on the hourly solar PV and onshore wind capacity factors of locations around the world, the tool displays the cost-optimal capacities for solar PV, wind and electrolysers, as well as the need for flexibility options such as hydrogen storage, battery storage or curtailment.

Users can adjust assumptions about costs

Users can adjust assumptions about costs, including the cost of capital, to visualise different potential outlooks for the cost of low-emissions hydrogen production. The tool has been developed using the ETHOS model suite of the Institute of Energy and Climate Research-3 at Research Centre Jülich.

Project announcements growing rapidly

Low-emissions hydrogen production can grow massively by 2030, with the number of project announcements expanding rapidly, as highlighted by the Global Hydrogen Review 2023. However, ensuring that these announced projects reach completion will require policy action to stimulate demand for low-emissions hydrogen and to overcome delays in implementing support schemes and addressing regulatory barriers that are hampering scale-up.

Hydrogen production projects interactive map

Levelised Cost of Hydrogen Maps

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This article is taken from the IEA Newsroom and is published with permission