While hopes for hydrogen as a major energy carrier go back decades, a new generation of hydrogen plans are now coming forth from companies, industry groups and countries. The EU’s ambitious plan for hydrogen is complemented by a growing number of national and regional plans in Europe, Asia and elsewhere. The remarkable number of hydrogen plans around the world indicate that a significant threshold has been reached. They cover an extensive range of applications. But they share a perspective that sees hydrogen as an indispensable energy intermediary in a future 0-carbon economy, one that carries the power of renewable solar and wind sources to diverse end uses. Intrinsic in the plans are two basic geographical arrangements. One is dispersed, with hydrogen becoming a fuel for buildings, heating homes and businesses, and a fuel for cars and trucks in a network of hydrogen refueling stations. The other is concentrated, in […]