Hydrogen and the sustainable development goals: Synergies and trade-offs

Sustainable Development Goal 7 highlights the importance of affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. Transition to clean energy is vital for achieving climate action goals. Hydrogen can serve as a clean energy carrier, with the potential to decarbonize industry, transportation, and other sectors. As of 2021, hydrogen was mainly produced using fossil fuels (grey hydrogen), and only about 1 % of global hydrogen output was produced with renewable energy (green hydrogen). The transition to green hydrogen requires new hydrogen production, storage, and distribution facilities which is challenging to implement due to a lack of associated infrastructure and high upfront costs. This study highlighted barriers and opportunities for hydrogen technologies by reviewing evidence and establishing links with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The review identified fifty-two opportunities and forty-six challenges linked to SDGs1, 2, 4.6, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13. Out of all the hydrogen production technologies green hydrogen was the most common choice noted in the. Technical opportunities for green hydrogen production were found to have the potential to positively impact society and environment, but high costs were noted to be a barrier. To reduce economic barriers, recommendations include analysing the impact of subsidies and working further on the development of policies and regulations to support the scaling-up of green hydrogen systems. [Display omitted] •Hydrogen supports SDG 7 ambitions, but high costs and a lack of existing infrastructure noted as barriers.•Review identifies fifty-two opportunities and forty-six challenges connecting hydrogen with SDGs.•Hydrogen presents sustainability synergies (environmental and social) and trade-offs (economic).•Green hydrogen is the most common solution identified in literature with the potential to support SDGs.•Need for subsidies to support scale up of green hydrogen.