Earth Day 2023: Now’s the time to tap into the potential of clean hydrogen for our planet’s future

More than a celebration, Earth Day is a reminder of the urgency that surrounds our world's race against the clock to decarbonize. Now is the time to embrace the reality of hydrogen as a global solution toward achieving Net Zero 2050, one that will provide a clean, secure and affordable energy future.

Meeting the ambitious climate goals necessary to reset our course will require nothing short of a profound transformation: a transition of energy supply and consumption from a system fueled primarily by non-renewable, carbon-based energy sources to one fueled by clean, low-carbon energy sources. The opportunity to tap into hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to lead this change is unequaled in terms of scale. By doing so, we not only greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, but we also stimulate new economic possibilities that will reverberate around the world.

The hydrogen movement already has momentum across our planet. Now is the time to significantly bolster it. There is no solution to climate change without hydrogen. The Hydrogen Council envisions 20% of final energy use moving through hydrogen solutions globally by 2050. Hydrogen has a strong start, and we know where we are going.

Right now, we need to focus on constantly accelerating the rate of change so we get to our goal as quickly as possible. The Hydrogen Council exists very much on this purpose: to accelerate change.

Now is our chance to call on thought leaders in all sectors of the global economy to better understand and advocate for the incredible potential of this clean energy carrier. Here are just a few of the reasons why the time for hydrogen is now:

Hydrogen can help ensure a just transition

Tapping into the potential of this energy solution will result in the blossoming of a hydrogen economy, creating hubs around the planet that will be a multiplier for other industries. With the critical economic and societal benefits that will accompany these hydrogen and related investments, developing countries and disadvantaged areas will be transformed, ensuring that no one gets left behind in the global transition to clean energy.

Sometimes, only hydrogen is the solution

Hydrogen plays an incredibly important role in the decarbonization of industrial sectors where emissions are hard to abate, and alternative solutions just aren’t available or are difficult to implement. This includes sectors like steel, cement, and other heavy manufacturing, as well as highly energy-intensive industries like transport where, in some cases, batteries just aren’t practical. In these cases especially, unlocking the potential of hydrogen is essential to get us on track for Net Zero 2050.

Hydrogen is an enabler and a complement to other renewables

Many people think of alternatives like solar and wind power when it comes to replacing fossil fuels to address climate change. However, there is a growing understanding that these technologies are not enough to ensure energy supply and security, or to reach our decarbonization goals. Hydrogen can play a critical role in achieving all three. By complementing and supporting these clean energy sources, hydrogen secures our energy supply and improves the resilience of the energy system - dispelling the either/or perceptions of renewables in the process.

It’s clear that hydrogen solutions offer vital contributions in the world’s transition to clean energy. If we are to get on track to a Net Zero scenario, we must create the policies, infrastructure and investment opportunities needed to unleash the full potential of hydrogen. We need the support of policymakers to overcome existing market barriers to roll out hydrogen technologies on a large scale. And we need leaders from across every industry to advocate that by embracing clean hydrogen today, we’ll have more to celebrate on Earth Day in the years ahead.