Conclusion

The use of an energy carrier such as hydrogen seems to be a good alternative to our current dependence on fossil fuels and the intermittency of renewable energies. It enables energy to be stored massively over long periods of time, and this stored energy can then be used in a wide variety of systems, such as mobility, heat or industrial processes. What's more, it has no impact on the carbon footprint, and its combustion with oxygen produces only water. However, before this can be envisaged, progress is needed at every stage of the hydrogen chain, and multiple technical and economic hurdles will have to be overcome.

In terms of production, 95% of hydrogen is currently produced by steam reforming of natural gas. This technique is the most cost-effective (4 times less expensive than electrolysis), but in addition to requiring a fossil fuel source, it is highly polluting...