Low-carbon hydrogen and e-fuels

Hydrogen made without unabated fossil CO2 and the fuels built from it (green ammonia, e-methanol, e-SAF); about 1% of hydrogen supply today.

Conversion and use · Fuel processing · No. 108

• Product family
• Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
• low-emissions hydrogen about 1 Mt in 2025, of almost 100 Mt total hydrogen; e-methanol tens of kt (Kassø 42 kt a year); e-SAF near zero at commercial scale
• 1.5 t CO₂e per t
• HS 280410, 290511

The world uses almost 100 Mt of hydrogen a year, yet barely 1% is made without fossil carbon.

Chart: Illustration: Low-carbon hydrogen and e-fuels

Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Renewable electricity splits water in electrolysers, using about 50-55 MWh per tonne; blue hydrogen instead reforms natural gas and captures the CO2.

Three things to know

1. Projects at final investment decision or running add up to just over 4 Mt a year by 2030, against 37 Mt announced.
2. Chinese electrolysers cost $600-1,200/kW, against $2,000-2,600/kW outside China, and China makes nearly 60% of them.
3. India's 2025 tenders bought refinery green hydrogen at about $4.6/kg and green ammonia at Rs 49.75-64.74/kg.

The journey

1. 1 Clean powerRenewables, or gas with carbon capture
2. 2 ElectrolysisElectricity splits water into hydrogen, oxygen
3. 3 HydrogenUsed directly in refineries and fertiliser
4. 4 CarriersConverted to ammonia, methanol or e-SAF
5. 5 Shipping, exportAmmonia tankers from India, Gulf to Europe

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