# Hydrogen

The lightest element and the hidden backbone of refining, ammonia and methanol; almost all of it is still made from gas or coal.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/

Commodity chemicals · Industrial gases · No. 13

- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- almost 100 Mt a year (2024)
- 12.0 t CO₂e per t
- HS 280410
 Commodity chemicals · Industrial gases · Foundation · Matter

The world uses almost 100 Mt of hydrogen a year, and less than 1% of it is made without fossil fuels.

Chart: Illustration: Hydrogen

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Most hydrogen comes from reforming natural gas with steam or gasifying coal; in 2024 it used about 290 bcm of gas and 90 Mtce of coal.

##### Three things to know

1. Refining takes 43% of hydrogen and ammonia 33%, so the gas is hidden inside petrol, diesel and fertiliser.
2. Grey hydrogen from gas costs about $1-2/kg, while India's first refinery green hydrogen tenders cleared at $4.4-4.6/kg in 2025.
3. Announced low-emissions supply for 2030 shrank from 49 Mt to 37 Mt a year between the 2024 and 2025 IEA reviews.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Gas or coal**290 bcm gas, 90 Mtce coal, 2024
2. 2 **Reforming**Methane and steam turned into syngas
3. 3 **Shift and purify**CO shifted to CO2; 99.9% pure hydrogen
4. 4 **Captive use**Mostly used where made, or piped
5. 5 **Conversion**Refinery fuels, ammonia, methanol and steel
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##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/links/index.md)