Is hydrogen a good replacement for natural gas and petrol?

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1. 1

   Hydrogen economy (Wikipedia)

   WikipediaPublished Oct 4, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026

   “The hydrogen economy is a term for the role hydrogen as an energy carrier to complement electricity as part of a long-term option to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The aim is to reduce emissions where cheaper and more energy-efficient clean solutions are not available. In this context, hydrogen economy encompasses the production of hydrogen and the use of hydrogen in ways that contribute to phasing-out fossil fuels and limiting climate change. Hydrogen can be produced by several means. Most hydrogen produced today is gray hydrogen, made from natural gas through steam methane reforming (SMR). This process accounted for 1.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. Low-carbon hydrogen, which is made using SMR with carbon capture and storage (blue hydrogen), or through electrolysis of water using renewable power (green hydrogen), accounted for less than 1% of production. Of the 100 million tonnes of hydrogen produced in 2021, 43% was used in oil refining and 57% in industry, principally in the manufacture of ammonia for fertilizers, and methanol.”

2. 2

   Cradle-to-Grave Lifecycle Analysis of U.S. Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle-Fuel Pathways: A Greenhouse Gas Emissions Assessment of Current (2021) and Future (2035) Technologies.

   Environmental science & technology (Kelly et al.)Published Feb 9, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026

   “Emissions savings depend largely on the duty cycle and fuel economy of the vehicle type. Future vehicle technology advancements result in comparable emission reductions associated with BEVs and hydrogen FCEVs. Weight-limited BEV trucks see less per-ton-mile emissions reduction due to the impact of battery weight on increased vehicle weight and reduced payload capacity. By 2035, improvements in vehicle efficiency can reduce emissions across all powertrains. However, very low levels of emissions require switching vehicles' use-phase fuel/energy to low-carbon fuels and electricity. Renewable diesel, e-fuels, hydrogen produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage or renewables, and use of low-carbon electricity can all achieve over 70% reduction in GHG emissions from the current day diesel-based internal combustion engine vehicle.”

3. 3

   Green hydrogen pathways for a net-zero future: technologies, circular economy integration, life-cycle performance and safety dimensions.

   RSC advances (Kundu et al.)Published Mar 10, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026

   “Conventional, biological, electrolytic, photocatalytic, and waste-derived pathways are compared in terms of efficiency, lifecycle emissions, resource intensity, material criticality, and toxicity. Storage and distribution options including compressed and liquefied hydrogen, chemical carriers, and porous materials are assessed for energy density, safety, recyclability, and infrastructure readiness. Life-cycle assessment data are integrated to identify key hotspots in global warming potential, water use, cumulative energy demand, and human toxicity. Policy frameworks, including India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, are examined with emphasis on implementation mechanisms, certification, and industrial integration. The analysis demonstrates that no single pathway satisfies all sustainability criteria, highlighting the need for targeted deployment, system integration, and regional optimisation. Embedding green chemistry principles alongside coordinated policy and infrastructure planning is essential for a resilient and equitable hydrogen economy.”

4. 4

   Electrofuels for Road, Rail, Maritime, and Aviation Sectors: Assessing the Potential Challenges and Opportunities for Decarbonization.

   ACS omega (Arumugampillai et al.)Published Apr 17, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026

   “This review synthesizes recent technological advances demonstrating pathway efficiency improvements up to 70% through process intensification and advanced catalytic systems, notably CO2 hydrogenation selectivity exceeding 80% for e-kerosene synthesis. Life cycle assessments indicate emission reductions of 75-90% relative to fossil-fuel counterparts, contingent on fully renewable energy inputs. Economic modeling projects cost parity trajectories toward €1.5-3.0/L by 2030, driven by renewable energy scale-up and learning-curve effects in electrolyzer and synthesis technologies. Policy analysis highlights the necessity of carbon pricing mechanisms, renewable fuel mandates, and targeted R&D funding to derisk investment and accelerate market formation. Finally, we explain critical research gaps in large-scale system integration, sustainable carbon sourcing, and life cycle sustainability assessment methodologies. By addressing these multidimensional challenges, e-fuels can transition from niche demonstration to commercially viable bridge technologies on the path to fully sustainable transport ecosystems.”

5. 5

   Hydrogen in transport: a review of opportunities, challenges, and sustainability concerns.

   RSC advances (Alreshidi et al.)Published Jul 10, 2025Checked Oct 4, 2026

   “It highlights innovations in material science and combined storage strategies that aim to improve safety, increase energy density, and reduce operational costs. Furthermore, the review explores the integration of hydrogen with renewable electricity and industrial systems, identifying its role in smart grid support, energy balancing, and flexible energy storage. The policy analysis highlights strategic national and international efforts that promote hydrogen deployment, including financial incentives, infrastructure development, and regulatory standards. The review also examines lifecycle assessment findings, comparing environmental impacts across hydrogen production routes and end use applications. Special attention is given to the role of alternative hydrogen carriers such as ammonia and liquid organic hydrogen compounds, which offer promising solutions for long distance transport and international trade. Finally, the study identifies current challenges related to technology standardization, safety regulations, and global market alignment, while outlining key research and innovation priorities essential to realizing a sustainable and inclusive hydrogen future for transportation.”

6. 6

   2040 greenhouse gas reduction targets and energy transitions in line with the EU Green Deal.

   Nature communications (Rodrigues et al.)Published Apr 16, 2026Checked Oct 4, 2026

   “While emission reduction targets and policies up to 2030 are mostly implemented, it is of high priority for EU legislation to spell out the further transformation to climate neutrality by defining interim policy targets for 2040. To provide information for this target-setting process, we use an integrated energy-economy-climate model with high sector detail to explore pathways to achieve climate neutrality in the EU under uncertainty about key energy system developments. Results suggest that emission reductions of 86% (sensitivity range: 80% to 93%) by 2040 relative to 1990 are consistent with a cost-efficient distribution of mitigation efforts over time, substantially exceeding the 78%-level implied by a linear interpolation between the 2030 and 2050 targets. Additionally, we identify a 7-fold (sensitivity range: 4-8-fold) upscaling of electricity generation from wind and solar, a 49% (sensitivity range: 45-59%) share of electricity in final energy supply and an upscaling of carbon capture and storage (CCS) to 188 Mt CO2/yr (sensitivity range: 56-257) as crucial transformation milestones for 2040.”