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Political Economy of Green Hydrogen Rollout: A Global Perspective

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  • Elkhan Richard Sadik-Zada

    (Institute of Development Research and Development Policy, Faculty of Management and Economics, Ruhr-University, 44789 Bochum, Germany
    Centre for Studies on European Economy (AIM), Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), Baku 1007, Azerbaijan
    Center for Environmental Management, Resources and Energy (CURE), Faculty of Management and Economics, Ruhr-University, 44801 Bochum, Germany)

Abstract

The present paper dwells on the role of green hydrogen in the transition towards climate-neutral economies and reviews the central challenges for its emancipation as an economically viable source of energy. The study shows that countries with a substantial share of renewables in the energy mix, advanced natural gas pipeline infrastructure, and an advanced level of technological and economic development have a comparative advantage for the wider utilization of hydrogen in their national energy systems. The central conclusion of this review paper is that a green hydrogen rollout in the developed and oil-exporting developing and emerging countries is not a risk for the rest of the world in terms of the increasing technological disparities and conservation of underdevelopment and concomitant socio-economic problems of the Global South. The targets anchored in Paris Agreement, but even more in the EU Green Deal and the European Hydrogen Strategy will necessitate a substantial rollout of RESs in developing countries, and especially in the countries of the African Union because of the prioritization of the African continent within the energy cooperation frameworks of the EU Green Deal and the EU Hydrogen Strategy. Hence, the green hydrogen rollout will bridge the energy transition between Europe and Africa on the one hand, and climate and development targets on the other.

Suggested Citation

  • Elkhan Richard Sadik-Zada, 2021. "Political Economy of Green Hydrogen Rollout: A Global Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:23:p:13464-:d:695753
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sonja Renssen, 2020. "The hydrogen solution?," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(9), pages 799-801, September.
    2. Simonas Cerniauskas & Thomas Grube & Aaron Praktiknjo & Detlef Stolten & Martin Robinius, 2019. "Future Hydrogen Markets for Transportation and Industry: The Impact of CO 2 Taxes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-26, December.
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