Hydrogen
Overview
Hydrogen is an increasingly important piece in the decarbonisation puzzle. Industrial players are seeking ways to take carbon emissions out of their hydrogen production processes, while green hydrogen producers see the gas as a viable outright alternative to hydrocarbons.
Future production routes range from methane reformation with carbon capture to pyrolysis, waste gasification and electrolysis, powered by renewable energy or fossil fuels. Combinations of processes and energy being used to produce hydrogen presents existing users of industrial heat and key chemicals a challenging landscape to navigate.
The Argus Hydrogen and Future Fuels service has been designed to provide industrial power, chemicals and energy users with crucial information to help them make well informed decisions. It covers the upstream for projects, midstream for transportation and storage, and downstream for ammonia and methanol. It also covers the latest technological developments and policy news on hydrogen from across the globe.
Latest hydrogen news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global hydrogen industry.
Japan’s Mitsui invests in US e-fuel producer
Japan’s Mitsui invests in US e-fuel producer
Tokyo, 17 April (Argus) — Japanese trading company Mitsui has invested in California-based synthetic fuel (e-fuel) producer Infinium, aiming to acquire knowledge on technology and commercialisation in the emerging sector. The investment in Infinium was conducted in March, Mitsui told Argus on 16 April, declining to disclose the specific amount. This marks Mitsui's second investment in e-fuel producers. The firm invested in California-based synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) producer Twelve Benefit . Infinium produces green hydrogen from water by electrolysis, and converts the hydrogen and CO2 into e-fuels by using renewable energy. The firm is planning to launch its second plant, which will specialise in e-SAF production. International Airlines Group (IAG) and American Airlines have agreed to receive the e-SAF that will be produced at the plant. E-fuels can help reduce over 90pc of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared with conventional fossil fuels, and are notable as "drop-in" substitutes for conventional fuels, applicable to existing engines and infrastructures, Mitsui said. Mitsui is observing the e-SAF market. SAF is a relatively promising prospect in the renewable energy sector, on the back of the target by the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to achieve net-zero emissions in international aviation by 2050, as well as governmental policies bolstering the deployment of SAF, a representative of the firm told Argus . Japan plans to replace 10pc of the jet fuel consumed by domestic airlines with SAF in 2030. By Kohei Yamamoto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
IMO GHG pricing not yet Paris deal-aligned: EU
IMO GHG pricing not yet Paris deal-aligned: EU
Brussels, 14 April (Argus) — The International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) global greenhouse gas (GHG) pricing mechanism "does not yet ensure the sector's full contribution to achieving the Paris Agreement goals", the European Commission has said. "Does it have everything for everybody? For sure, it doesn't," said Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the commission's climate and energy spokesperson said. "This is often the case as an outcome from international negotiations, that not everybody gets the most optimal outcome." The IMO agreement reached last week will need to be confirmed by the organisation in October, the EU noted, even if it is a "strong foundation" and "meaningful step" towards net zero GHG emissions in global shipping by 2050. The commission will have 18 months following the IMO mechanism's formal approval to review the directive governing the bloc's emissions trading system (ETS), which currently includes maritime emissions for intra-EU voyages and those entering or leaving the bloc. By EU law, the commission will also have to report on possible "articulation or alignment" of the bloc's FuelEU Maritime regulation with the IMO, including the need to "avoid duplicating regulation of GHG emissions from maritime transport" at EU and international levels. That report should be presented, "without delay", following formal adoption of an IMO global GHG fuel standard or global GHG intensity limit. Finland's head representative at the IMO delegation talks, Anita Irmeli, told Argus that the EU's consideration of whether the approved Marpol amendments are ambitious enough won't be until "well after October". Commenting on the IMO agreement, the European Biodiesel Board (EBB) pointed to the "neutral" approach to feedstocks, including first generation biofuels. "The EBB welcomes this agreement, where all feedstocks and pathways have a role to play," EBB secretary general Xavier Noyon said. Faig Abbasov, shipping director at non-governmental organisation Transport and Environment, called for better incentives for green hydrogen. "The IMO deal creates a momentum for alternative marine fuels. But unfortunately it is the forest-destroying first generation biofuels that will get the biggest push for the next decade," he said. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
H2 groups, environmentalists disappointed by IMO deal
H2 groups, environmentalists disappointed by IMO deal
Hamburg, 14 April (Argus) — The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) global greenhouse gas (GHG) pricing mechanism may be insufficient to stimulate short-term uptake of clean hydrogen-based marine fuels and threatens decarbonisation targets, hydrogen industry associations and environmental groups said. Delegates approved a proposed mechanism at the IMO's 83rd Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting on 11 April. The proposal will be put to an adoption vote at the next MEPC in October after which the rules could enter into force in 2027. The IMO said its "net-zero framework is the first in the world to combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing across an entire sector". But the agreement does not go far enough to drive extensive uptake of clean hydrogen and derivatives, such as ammonia and e-methanol, as the mechanism's design will encourage use of LNG and biofuels instead, at least in the short-term, according to industry participants and environmental bodies. "Delegates have agreed a measure that may lock in the use of environmentally destructive biofuels and LNG" instead of providing the incentives necessary "to jump start the transition" to e-fuels based on renewable hydrogen, said the Skies and Seas Hydrogen-fuels Accelerator Coalition's (Sasha) founder Aoife O'Leary. Brussels-based environmental group Transport & Environment (T&E) took a similar stance. While the IMO's agreement "creates a momentum for alternative marine fuels… it is the forest-destroying first generation biofuels that will get the biggest push for the next decade," the group's shipping director Faig Abbasov said. "Without better incentives for sustainable e-fuels from green hydrogen, it is impossible to decarbonise this heavy polluting industry." The criticism is directed primarily at the CO2 prices set under the two-tier system. The tier 2 price of $380/t of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) could encourage a shift away from diesel or other "high-emission fuels", but this would likely be to "relatively affordable biofuels" rather than "significantly cleaner alternatives such as green hydrogen-derived fuels", T&E said. Industry body the Green Hydrogen Organisation (GH2) noted that reducing the penalties to $100/t CO2e price for vessels that meet "base" targets could encourage companies using "LNG and more carbon intensive fuels" to "pay to pollute rather than comply over the next few years". The group criticised the lack of "a universal levy with a meaningful carbon price". It will be key to ensure that all emissions, including methane leakage, are comprehensively accounted for and that "direct and indirect land-use change from biofuels" is factored in, GH2 said. But despite the criticism, GH2 said the agreement "sends an important signal to green fuels producers to go forward with their projects". "The greenest fuels will be able to generate credits… which they can sell," the group said, adding that the IMO will agree "a mechanism to reward zero or near-zero emission ships by March 2027". This could drive an increase in orders for dual-fuel vessels that could eventually transition to hydrogen-based fuels, it said. Off target Some groups, including T&E, the Clean Shipping Coalition and the Global Maritime Forum, argue that the shipping industry will fail to meet emissions reduction targets with the proposed framework. The measures will "at best" provide emissions reductions of 10pc by 2030 and 60pc by 2040, far below the IMO's 2023 commitments to 30pc and 80pc, respectively, T&E said. The failure to send stronger signals for uptake of hydrogen-based fuels puts at risk a target of reaching 5pc fuel use that is zero- or near-zero emission by 2030 and the industry's entire 2050 net-zero goal, the Global Maritime Forum said. Other International shipping organisations, such as the International Chamber of Shipping and the European Community Shipowners Association, voiced support for the agreement although they acknowledged that it is "not perfect". By Stefan Krumpelmann Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Q&A: IMO GHG scheme in EU ETS could be 'challenging'
Q&A: IMO GHG scheme in EU ETS could be 'challenging'
London, 11 April (Argus) — Delegates have approved the global greenhouse gas (GHG) pricing mechanism proposal at the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 83rd Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting. Argus Media spoke to ministerial adviser and Finland's head representative at the IMO delegation talks, Anita Irmeli, on the sidelines of the London MEPC meeting. What is your initial reaction to the text? We are happy and satisfied about the content of the agreed text, so far. But we need to be careful. This week, all member states were able to vote. But in October, when adaption will take place, only those states which are parties to Marpol Annex VI will be able to vote if indeed a vote is called for, and that changes the situation a little bit. Here when we were voting, a minority was enough — 40 votes. But if or when we vote in October, then we need two thirds of those party to Marpol Annex VI to be in favour of the text. Will enthusiasm for the decision today remain by October? I'm pretty sure it will. But you never know what will happen between now and and the next six months. What is the effect of the decision on FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS? Both FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS have a review clause. This review clause states that if we are ambitious enough at the IMO, then the EU can review or amend the regulation. So of course, it is very important that we first consider if the approved Marpol amendments are ambitious enough to meet EU standards. Only after that evaluation, which won't be until well after October, can we consider these possible changes. Do you think the EU will be able to adopt these the text as it stands today? My personal view is that we can perhaps incorporate this text under FuelEU Maritime, but it may be more challenging for the EU ETS, where shipping is now included. What was the impact of US President Donald Trump's letter on the proceedings? EU states were not impacted, but it's difficult to say what the impact was on other states. By Madeleine Jenkins Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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