Title page
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4
ABBREVIATIONS 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5
FIVE ACTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY POLICYMAKERS 7
1. INTRODUCTION 8
1.1. The role of green hydrogen in a global low-carbon economy 9
1.2. Prospects for green hydrogen production 12
1.3. How global hydrogen trade could play out in the future 15
2. MAPPING SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES FROM A TRADE PERSPECTIVE 18
2.1. Trade in hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives 22
2.2. Electrolysers as a key technology for the green hydrogen supply chain 26
3. TRADE-RELATED POLICIES ALONG THE HYDROGEN VALUE CHAIN 28
3.1. Tariffs and other taxes 31
3.2. Quality infrastructure - standards, certification and beyond 32
3.3. Subsidies 36
3.4. Sustainable government procurement 39
4. CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT 42
5. THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 46
FIVE ACTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY POLICYMAKERS 50
ANNEX 53
BIBLIOGRAPHY 56
Table 1. Overview of advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen transport alternatives 16
Table 2. Top import markets for hydrogen and top three suppliers, 2021 23
Table 3. Top import markets for ammonia and top three suppliers, 2021 24
Table 4. Top import markets for methanol and top three suppliers, 2021 25
Table 5. Top import markets for electrolysers and top three suppliers, 2022 27
Table 6. The state of international collaboration on green hydrogen 48
Figure 1. Breakdown of total final energy consumption by energy carrier under IRENA's 1.5℃ scenario 11
Figure 2. Global clean hydrogen supply in 2020, 2030 and 2050 in IRENA's 1.5℃ scenario 11
Figure 3. Global levelized cost of electricity from newly commissioned utility-scale renewable power technologies 12
Figure 4. Green hydrogen cost estimations based on deployment levels, power supply and electrolyser cost 13
Figure 5.1. Green hydrogen potential versus global primary energy demand in 2050 14
Figure 5.2. Levelized cost of hydrogen in 2050 14
Figure 6. Global hydrogen trade flows under optimistic technology assumptions in 2050 17
Figure 7. Green hydrogen production, conversion and end uses across the energy system 20
Figure 8. Overview of tradable goods and services along the green hydrogen and derivatives supply chain 21
Figure 9. Global imports in hydrogen and derivatives (ammonia and methanol) 22
Figure 10. Top five importers and exporters of electrolysers 26
Figure 11. Hydrogen-related measures in members' notifications by WTO agreement 30
Figure 12. Average applied most-favoured-nation tariffs (in parentheses) and number of members by tariff range (bars) 31
Boxes
Box 1. WTO environmental initiatives 38