The Hype About Hydrogen

For decades, we've been promised that a hydrogen economy is just around the corner. After billions in investment, hydrogen has failed to live up to these overblown promises. Yet it is as hyped as ever, a target of media enthusiasm and hefty investment from government and industry. Is it time to accept that the "fuel of the future" may never arrive?

In 2003, energy expert Joesph J. Romm wrote The Hype About Hydrogen to explain why hydrogen wasn't the panacea we were promised—and may never be. In this newly revised and updated edition, Romm builds an even stronger case, explaining the barriers hydrogen faces. In a series of significant updates, Romm breaks down the latest methods of production, including "green" hydrogen, hydrogen made with nuclear power, geologic hydrogen, and "blue" hydrogen from natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS), laying out the challenges with each. He then explores the limitations of suggested applications of hydrogen.

The Hype About Hydrogen is essential for anyone who hopes that hydrogen will be a major solution to the climate crisis. The good news? We don't need it to be. With advancements in renewables and battery technology, electrification offers us a path forward that is cleaner, safer—and can be implemented today.