Letter from London: Hydrogen hits peak hype

A new realism is shaping the ambitions of the clean hydrogen industry after years spent overstating its decarbonisation potential

Hydrogen’s potential to decarbonise each and every corner of the economy has been talked up relentlessly in recent years. Now, that overly bullish narrative has given way to a new pragmatism. There is a narrower focus on applications in sectors where hydrogen is the only viable option for decarbonisation. “We have reached peak hype in the hydrogen sector and are now at the point of realism,” Frederik Beelitz, advisory principal at energy consultants Aurora, told the recent Aurora Hydrogen Conference in London. Industry and mobility are now by far the largest target markets for hydrogen projects through 2030, although the scale of projects aimed at industrial offtake is far larger. “Industry