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Trends, Challenges, and Viability in Green Hydrogen Initiatives

Author

Listed:
  • Mario Iamarino

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Antonio D’Angola

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy)

Abstract

This review explores the current status of green hydrogen integration into energy and industrial ecosystems. By considering notable examples of existing and developing green hydrogen initiatives, combined with insights from the relevant scientific literature, this paper illustrates the practical implementation of those systems according to their main end use: power and heat generation, mobility, industry, or their combination. Main patterns are highlighted in terms of sectoral applications, geographical distribution, development scales, storage solutions, electrolyzer technology, grid interaction, and financial viability. Open challenges are also addressed, including the high production costs, an underdeveloped transport and distribution infrastructure, the geopolitical aspects and the weak business models, with the industrial sector appearing as the most favorable environment where such challenges may first be overcome in the medium term.

Suggested Citation

  • Mario Iamarino & Antonio D’Angola, 2025. "Trends, Challenges, and Viability in Green Hydrogen Initiatives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-37, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:17:p:4476-:d:1730728
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ajanovic, Amela & Sayer, Marlene & Haas, Reinhard, 2024. "On the future relevance of green hydrogen in Europe," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    2. Adrian Odenweller & Falko Ueckerdt, 2025. "The green hydrogen ambition and implementation gap," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 110-123, January.
    3. David Franzmann & Thora Schubert & Heidi Heinrichs & Peter A. Kukla & Detlef Stolten, 2025. "Energy Storage Autonomy in Renewable Energy Systems Through Hydrogen Salt Caverns," Papers 2504.12135, arXiv.org, revised Apr 2025.
    4. Haoxin, Dong & Qiyuan, Deng & Chaojie, Li & Nian, Liu & Zhang, Wenzuo & Hu, Mingyue & Xu, Chuanbo, 2025. "A comprehensive review on renewable power-to-green hydrogen-to-power systems: Green hydrogen production, transportation, storage, re-electrification and safety," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 390(C).
    5. Squadrito, G. & Nicita, A. & Maggio, G., 2021. "A size-dependent financial evaluation of green hydrogen-oxygen co-production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 2165-2177.
    6. Joanna Sitarz & Michael Pahle & Sebastian Osorio & Gunnar Luderer & Robert Pietzcker, 2024. "EU carbon prices signal high policy credibility and farsighted actors," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 9(6), pages 691-702, June.
    7. Kourougianni, Fanourios & Arsalis, Alexandros & Olympios, Andreas V. & Yiasoumas, Georgios & Konstantinou, Charalampos & Papanastasiou, Panos & Georghiou, George E., 2024. "A comprehensive review of green hydrogen energy systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
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