Developers have shifted focus to de-risking projects in the pipeline
Momentum slows for new hydrogen capacity
New announced capacity in global project pipeline fell by 90pc between Q1 and Q4 last year, according to Wood Mackenzie
The global hydrogen project pipeline saw less than 1mn t/yr of new planned capacity announced in Q4 2022—a fall of more than 90pc from Q1, according to data from consultancy Wood Mackenzie. Total capacity reached 71.4mn t/yr, 3mn t/yr lower than new projects announced in 2021. “[Last year] was marked by the energy crisis and a slew of policy announcements from the EU, the US and the UK supporting hydrogen production. Despite this, announcements slowed through the year as developers shifted their focus to de-risking the existing project pipeline,” says Flor Lucia De la Cruz, senior research analyst for hydrogen and emerging technologies at Woodmac. 83GW – New electrolyser manufacturing
Also in this section
4 March 2026
Turmoil in Middle East reminds nascent clean hydrogen sector that its future prospects are dependent on global energy markets and geopolitics
25 February 2026
Low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia development is advancing much more slowly and unevenly than once expected, with high costs and policy uncertainty thinning investment. Meanwhile, surging energy demand is reinforcing the role of natural gas and LNG as the backbone of the global energy system, panellists at LNG2026 said
18 February 2026
Norwegian energy company has dropped a major hydrogen project and paused its CCS expansion plans as demand fails to materialise
4 February 2026
Europe’s largest electrolyser manufacturers are losing patience with policymakers as sluggish growth in the green hydrogen sector undermines their decision to expand production capacity
