Green Hydrogen and Its Contribution to Environmental Sustainability: A Review

Abstract

Green hydrogen has become a fundamental pillar in the transition towards a low-carbon economy, due to its ability to produce energy without polluting emissions and from renewable sources such as solar and wind. Unlike other hydrogen production technologies, green hydrogen is obtained through water electrolysis using renewable electricity, which makes it a clean and sustainable fuel, ideal for hard-to-decarbonized sectors such as heavy industry and long-distance transportation. The main objective of this review is to analyze the evolution, trends, and knowledge gaps related to the sustainability of green hydrogen, identifying the main research focus areas, scientific actors, and emerging opportunities. To do this, 1935 scientific articles indexed in Scopus and WOS were examined under PRISMA 2020. Among the most relevant results, an exponential growth in scientific production on hydrogen and sustainability is observed, with Asian authors leading due to strong national commitments. The main challenges identified by the scientific community are related to efficiency, profitability, optimization, integration into sustainable energy systems, and emission reduction. Green hydrogen technologies are central to future energy, and success depends on international collaboration, innovation, and stable policies that support large-scale, sustainable clean energy adoption.