Thought of the Day: Hydrogen: A Global Energy Revolution Towards 2025

Introduction

In recent years, hydrogen has emerged as one of the most promising solutions to address the climate crisis. Since its first mention in an international context during COP25 in Madrid in 2019, we have seen how this element has positioned itself at the center of the debate on sustainable energy. The year 2025 marked fundamental milestones that defined its role in the global energy future.

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The Evolution of Hydrogen

Traditionally used in the steel industry, hydrogen has evolved towards more diverse and sustainable applications. As countries intensified their efforts to combat climate change, different classifications of hydrogen emerged: gray, blue, green, and yellow, each with its own environmental footprint.

- Gray Hydrogen: Produced from natural gas through reforming, it emits CO2 in the process.

- Blue Hydrogen: Similar to gray hydrogen but capturing and storing the resulting CO2 emissions.

- Green Hydrogen: Generated through electrolysis using renewable energy, it is completely emission-free.

- Yellow Hydrogen: Derived from natural gas with the added benefit of carbon capture and storage.

Key Milestones of 2025

The year 2025 witnessed several crucial events that solidified hydrogen as a transformative force in the energy landscape:

1. Hydrogen Americas Summit (Washington): The United States committed to tripling its green hydrogen production, positioning itself as a leader in the adoption of clean technologies.

2. World Hydrogen Summit (Rotterdam): In a historic meeting, 42 countries agreed on a global standard for green hydrogen, facilitating its international trade and certification.

3. Hydrogen Latin America (Santiago, Chile): Brazil launched the "Northeast Hub" initiative, reinforcing its leadership in Latin America with a significant investment in green hydrogen infrastructure.

4. G20 Energy Transitions (Foz do Iguaçu): The Belém Declaration on Hydrogen marked an unprecedented political consensus, laying the groundwork for international collaboration.

5. World Hydrogen Congress (Copenhagen): The "hydrogen passport" was introduced, an innovative tool to ensure traceability and facilitate global hydrogen trade.

6. Pre-COP30 Hydrogen Roundtable (Brasilia): 110 countries signed a letter of intent, committing to establish a global hydrogen market by 2030.

Economic and Technological Impacts

The global adoption of hydrogen has redistributed energy power, transforming new players into green exporters. Technological innovations have enabled successful demonstrations of hydrogen-powered vehicles and ships, showing their viability in reducing emissions.

Impact on Our Daily Lives

- Freight and Maritime Transport: This is the major challenge of decarbonization. Long-haul trucks and ocean-going ships cannot run solely on batteries. Hydrogen and its derivatives (such as green ammonia) are the only viable solution today to decarbonize this sector, which is the backbone of global trade. Announcements of hydrogen-powered ships by 2025 are the spearhead of this revolution.

- Green Industry: Virtually every product we use (from the aluminum in your phone to the cement in your house) has a huge carbon footprint. Hydrogen allows us to produce green steel, green cement, and green chemicals, decarbonizing the foundations of our material civilization.

Production Challenges

Currently, only 0.01% of global production is achieved, and this is expected to reach 15% by 2035.

Institutional Challenges

Establishing global standards has been a key institutional challenge. However, progress by 2025 paved the way for more efficient certification and trade, ensuring that hydrogen meets sustainable criteria.

Looking to the Future

With COP30 in Belém and APEC 2025 in Peru on the horizon, a global hydrogen market with clear rules and technological cooperation is expected to solidify. These events have the potential to further strengthen hydrogen's role in the energy transition.

Conclusion

The year 2025 has been pivotal for the development of hydrogen as a sustainable energy solution. As we move forward, it is crucial to continue fostering international collaboration and technological innovation to maximize its potential in the fight against climate change.