Assessment of Technological Path of Hydrogen Energy Industry Development: A Review

Abstract

Hydrogen energy has the advantages of low carbon and cleanliness, high energy density, and high conversion efficiency; it is expected to play a pivotal role in Eastern Asia and the MENA region’s energy transition. The research status and development prospects of various technologies in hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, and hydrogen use are analyzed. On this basis, specific technical paths for developing renewable energy and integrated energy service parks coupled with hydrogen energy are proposed. Solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) electrolysis hydrogen production and solid material hydrogen storage are the most potential development in directions of hydrogen production and hydrogen storage. Technologies such as hydrogen fuel cell and natural gas hydrogen mixture in the hydrogen use link should be simultaneously promoted. The organic combination of wind/light-abandoned hydrogen production by electrolysis of water, wind power/photovoltaic off-grid hydrogen production with fuel cell power generation, hydrogen refueling station supply, methanol production, and natural gas hydrogen mixing technology would effectively solve the uneconomical and transportation difficulties of renewable energy hydrogen production. At the same time, hydrogen energy can realize the interconnection of multiple energy networks, and its application prospects in the future integrated energy service parks are very broad.