Worldwide long-distance shipping of hydrogen is forthcoming, study shows

The majority of the hydrogen that will be used worldwide will be shipped and pipelined over large distances. According to a McKinsey analysis, which served as the foundation for the Hydrogen Council’s report, Global Hydrogen Flows, this is the case.

Trading hydrogen is essential for efficient decarbonization. The established Global Hydrogen Trade Model has optimized 1.5 million potential trade routes in total, with the demand model linked with the routes to reach the net zero climate goals in the four time periods of 2025, 2030, 2040, and 2050 years.

With 660 million tons of hydrogen expected to be consumed globally in 2050, it is expected that 400 million tons, or 60%, will be transported over great distances. 65 million tons of the 140 million tons of hydrogen that will be used in 2030 will be imported.

By 2050, it is estimated that $1.5 trillion in investments would be required to build the transportation infrastructure.

While the remainder of Europe, India, China, South Korea, and Japan will be the biggest importers of pure hydrogen, the US, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Chile, Russia, and Norway may become important exporters.