Hydrogen is a critical commodity in major industrial and chemical processes, from petroleum refining to fertilizer production. In the United States, approximately ten million metric tons of hydrogen are produced annually, with demand concentrated in three main end uses: petroleum refining (55 percent) and the production of ammonia and methanol (collectively 35 percent). Most hydrogen today is produced through conventional methods that involve the unabated release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Clean hydrogen refers to hydrogen whose production results in lifecycle emissions significantly below those of conventional pathways. The U.S. Department of Energy’s current Clean Hydrogen Production Standard sets a target of no more than four kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per kilogram of hydrogen produced, compared to the approximately 10 kilograms emitted through incumbent methods. Clean hydrogen is a strategically important commodity for American trade competitiveness, job creation, domestic manufacturing and supply chain resilience, and technology leadership.
