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The role of hydrogen in decarbonizing U.S. industry: A review

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  • Zhu, Yongxian
  • Keoleian, Gregory A.
  • Cooper, Daniel R.

Abstract

There is a growing interest in hydrogen for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries. However, determining which industries to target, the scale of the opportunity, and how to meet the hydrogen demand out to 2050 is complex and highly uncertain. The most significant decarbonization opportunity identified in this review is in the refining and chemicals industries, where annual emissions could reduce by up to 24% by 2050 from 2021 levels if emissions-intensive grey hydrogen is replaced with clean hydrogen. New (clean) hydrogen applications include replacements for carbon-based reductants in steelmaking (≤18% steelmaking emissions reduction by 2050) and fuel for high-temperature heat in cement, aluminum, and glassmaking, with annual sectoral emissions reductions by 2050 of up to 23%, 3%, and 32% respectively. Hydrogen technologies have high readiness levels and face modest technical barriers in burner and furnace design. The primary challenge lies in reducing clean hydrogen production and delivery costs to $0.4–0.7/kgH2 to compete with natural gas and scale its production from <1% of all U.S. hydrogen production today.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu, Yongxian & Keoleian, Gregory A. & Cooper, Daniel R., 2025. "The role of hydrogen in decarbonizing U.S. industry: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:214:y:2025:i:c:s1364032125000656
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115392
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Li, Quan & Zhang, Qian & Zhang, Lei & Lang, Jinhua & Yuan, Wei & An, Guangyao & Lei, Tongtong & JunhaoYan,, 2026. "A comprehensive review of advances and challenges of hydrogen production, purification, compression, transportation, storage and utilization technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PA).
    4. He, Junqiang & Zhao, Haiyan & Yin, Jingyuan & Shi, Changli, 2026. "A hierarchical game-based price-demand-energy hub operation coordinated optimization strategy for near-carbon-neutral hydrogen industrial parks," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    5. Yehia F. Khalil, 2025. "Scoring and Ranking Methods for Evaluating the Techno-Economic Competitiveness of Hydrogen Production Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-24, June.
    6. Jayawardhana, Purnima & Kiehle, Julia & Calò, Antonio & Pongrácz, Eva, 2025. "Hydrogen pipedreams or a new industrial revival: Industrial hydrogen demand by 2030 in Finland and Europe," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).

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