Hydrogen at tipping point with $11 trillion market set to explode.
After decades of false starts, hydrogen technology is at ‘tipping point’ and poised to take off as falling production costs, technological improvements, and a global push toward sustainability converge, according to Bank of America.
The firm believes this will generate $2.5 trillion in direct revenue — or $4 trillion if revenue from associated products such as fuel cell vehicles is counted — with the total market potential reaching $11 trillion by 2050.
“Hydrogen could supply our energy needs, fuel our cars, heat our homes, and help to fight climate change,” the firm said in a recent note to clients. “We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90% of the universe, effectively and economically.”
The hydrogen technology hasn’t taken off to date for a variety of reasons, including that hydrogen is expensive to manufacture since it has to be produced using another energy source, as well as because it’s less energy efficient than fossil fuels.
Bank of America compared the sector to smartphones pre-2007 or the internet pre-dot.com, saying now is the time to look at it, “before it goes mainstream.” Among the sectors that stand to benefit are industrials, infrastructure and renewables.
Liquid hydrogen is used as fuel for combustion with oxygen. In addition, hydrogen fuel cells create electrical power that complements the gas turbine, resulting in a highly efficient hybrid-electric propulsion system. All of these technologies are complementary, and the benefits are additive.”
traditional hydrogen fuel cells can be thought of as batteries that never run flat as long as the H2 keeps coming. The majority of hydrogen is which is generated are through fossil fuel-based processes such as the steam reforming of natural gas and also coal gasification. Global hydrogen production costs will need to come down, and oil prices will need to increase to justify the transition.
