Hydrogen Growth Demands Permitting Reform
Hydrogen demand is likely to skyrocket in the next few decades鈥攊f permitting delays and other setbacks don鈥檛 stymie it, according to (subscription).
What鈥檚 going on: 鈥淎 new report from consulting firm McKinsey forecasts a fivefold rise in hydrogen demand to 600 million metric tons a year by 2050, if climate change is limited to 1.5 degree Celsius. On current trajectories, however, that supply could be between 175 million to 291 million metric tons a year if steps aren鈥檛 taken to speed up permitting and lower both equipment and investment costs, the report warned.鈥
- The report identified three major challenges to meeting the rising demand: increased costs, a slow permitting process and 鈥渓ack of access to capital,鈥 which can be attributed largely to higher interest rates.
Incentives abound: Government incentives for hydrogen are on the rise. Up to $300 billion has been made available worldwide for hydrogen-energy projects this year, a sixfold increase from 2021.
- Last week, the Energy Department announced $7 billion in subsidies to create seven clean-hydrogen 鈥渉ubs鈥 in the U.S.
More support required: More action from government is still needed鈥攑articularly when it comes to allowing hydrogen projects to proceed.
- 鈥淔aster permitting times are needed to bring more hydrogen projects online, as well as the renewable energy to power their electrolyzers, industry experts say. A recent report from the International Energy Agency said current project lead times are too long and can act as a barrier to clean hydrogen uptake.鈥
What we鈥檙e doing: Manufacturers have long been urging policymakers to fix the broken U.S. permitting system.
- The 17吃瓜在线 recently laid out a for Congress 鈥渢o modernize and update our nation鈥檚 antiquated permitting system.鈥