Hydrogen and hydrogen carriers: Overview

Moving the lightest molecule as gas, liquid or chemical

What this tile covers Moving hydrogen as gas, liquid or inside other chemicals. Share of use 0.2% share of world energy carried (2017)

Share of world total energy supply (592 EJ in 2024, Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025, physical energy content) carried at least once by this mode; overlaps allowed, so shares do not add to 100 (calculated) Merchant hydrogen, the part sold and moved off site, was about 7.9 Mt of capacity in 2017 (IHS Markit, via US DOE), about 11% of on-purpose output; at 120 MJ/kg that is about 0.95 EJ. Ammonia and methanol shipped as chemicals are not counted. Old data. Source: Hydrogen Market: Domestic and Global (DOE Hydrogen Program Record 19002), US Department of Energy.

Key facts

Form

Gaseous fuel and carriers

Included from the reference tables

Dedicated hydrogen pipelines and blending
Compressed tube trailers
Liquid hydrogen tankers (minus 253 C)
Ammonia, methanol, LOHCs and metal hydrides as carriers

Linked to the material world

H2 Hydrogen NH3 Ammonia MeOH Methanol

Also in Liquid and gaseous fuels

OP Oil and product pipelines Tk Tankers, barges and fuel trucks GP Gas pipelines and city gas LNG LNG chain LPG CNG, LPG and biogas distribution

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