Celebrating 2024: Advances and Challenges for Hydrogen in a Year of Transformation
As we approach the end of 2024, at Fuel Cells Works, we want to thank our readers and subscribers for joining us during this year of innovation and growth. It has been a period of historic achievements for the hydrogen industry, marked by technological advancements, visionary projects, and global commitments toward a sustainable future.
This year, we have witnessed significant progress in public and private investments, the expansion of ground fleets, and the development of rail, aviation, and maritime projects. Emerging countries are also beginning to join the ranks of established leaders in hydrogen production and development. However, not all news has been positive. On the other side of the spectrum, some key market players have faced financial difficulties, regulatory challenges, or slow market growth, leading to significant setbacks or the closure of operations.
In this article, we reflect on the milestones achieved, presenting a summary of the year’s most relevant news, categorized by topics. Finally, we highlight the projects that could not continue for another year.
One of the main drivers of the hydrogen economy in 2024 has been investments, primarily governmental, with the USA and the EU standing out as key promoters.
Plug
In the United States, investments include those by Plug Power and the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2). 1Plug Power secured $1.66B in loans for green hydrogen production facilities, while 2ARCH2 received $925M in funding to develop a clean hydrogen economy focused on job creation and environmental benefits. Additional government investments amount to 3$2.2B for two regional clean hydrogen hubs in the Gulf Coast and Midwest.
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HDF
In the European Union, 4Spain allocated €150M to Cobra Solutions for its Green Cobra project, which will establish a hydrogen supply chain and aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 5Germany has also announced significant investments, including €4.6B for 23 green hydrogen projects, emphasizing renewable hydrogen production and storage and transportation infrastructure. 6The Hy2Move project, with €1.4B in funding, supports hydrogen technologies for clean transportation, with Airbus and BMW playing pivotal roles. 7EnBW has committed €1B to expand Germany's national hydrogen network by 2032, aligning with the country's decarbonization goals. Lastly, 8HDF Energy received €172M to develop high-power hydrogen fuel cells for the maritime, rail, and electricity generation sectors.
In Asia, 9Japan is striving to consolidate its leadership in the hydrogen economy, planning investments of €100B over the next 15 years to enhance hydrogen production, storage, and transportation.
Cellcentric
In the field of fuel cells and electrolyzers: 10Cellcentric has started pilot production of fuel cell systems for long-haul trucks, with plans to scale production by the end of the decade. 11EH Group and NIM have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop hydrogen fuel cell solutions for maritime vessels, while Bloom Energy plans to develop the largest single-site fuel cell facility in South Korea.
Celebrating 2024: Hydrogen's Transformation