Hydrogen as an alternative fuel: A comprehensive review of challenges and opportunities in production, storage, and transportation
Open accessAbstract
The rapid growth of the global population and industrial activities has significantly increased greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions, with projections indicating a temperature rise of 3–6 °C by 2050. Urgent action is needed to limit global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. Hydrogen, with its high energy density and compatibility with renewable energy systems , presents a promising clean energy solution to mitigate GHGs emissions. Yet, its widespread adoption faces challenges such as high production costs, limited infrastructure, and an underdeveloped value chain. At present, approximately 96% of global hydrogen production relies on fossil fuels , contributing to substantial emissions, while only 4% comes from water electrolysis . Green hydrogen , produced via electrolysis with 55–80% efficiency, remains expensive at $2.28–7.39/kg, compared to grey hydrogen at $0.67–1.31/kg, which generates 8.5 kg CO₂ per kg of hydrogen production . Hydrogen's low density poses challenges for storage, while transportation risks and insufficient infrastructure create further obstacles. The lack of global standards and investment uncertainties further impede the development of a comprehensive hydrogen economy. This review evaluates hydrogen's potential as a sustainable energy carrier, providing insights into advancements and ongoing challenges in production, storage, and transportation. Key findings highlight the necessity of coordinated efforts to enhance storage technologies, lower production costs, and establish supportive policies, highlighting hydrogen's critical role in achieving a sustainable energy transition.
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Stemming from characteristics like their relatively high energy density compared to alternatives like batteries and gaseous fuels, along with their liquid state, liquid biofuels possess distinct advantages regarding ease of transportation and storage using existing infrastructure, simplified logistics, established safety protocols, and compatibility, often requiring minimal retrofitting for集成
“Stemming from characteristics like their relatively high energy density compared to alternatives like batteries [36] and gaseous fuels [46,47], along with their liquid state, these biofuels possess distinct advantages regarding ease of transportation and storage using existing infrastructure [12,15], simplified logistics, established safety protocols [46], and compatibility, often requiring”
From Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions (2025) · cites this paper as [47]
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredE-hydrogen faces significant economic disadvantages related to the high costs of storage and transportation infrastructure stemming from its low volumetric energy density.
“However, e-hydrogen faces significant economic disadvantages related to the high costs of storage and transportation infrastructure stemming from its low volumetric energy density [46,47,55].”
From Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions (2025) · cites this paper as [47]
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Biofuels, E-Fuels, and Waste-Derived Fuels: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions
Yılbaşı, Z. (2025) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su17136145 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Hossain Bhuiyan, M. M., & Siddique, Z.
- Affiliations
- University of Oklahoma (US)
- ORCID
- Siddique, Zahed
- Venue
- International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2025-02
- Volume
- 102
- Pages
- 1026-1044
- ISSN
- 0360-3199 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4406341213
- Cited by
- 756
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 504 · 2025: 252
- FWCI
- 134.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- SHAREOK (University of Oklahoma; Oklahoma State University; Central Oklahoma University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- University of Oklahoma
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Energy Engineering and Power Technology › Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Hydrogen Storage and Materials
- Physical Sciences › Chemical Engineering › Catalysis › Catalysts for Methane Reforming
- Keywords
- hydrogen, green hydrogen, grey hydrogen, hydrogen production, water electrolysis, hydrogen storage, hydrogen transport, hydrogen infrastructure, hydrogen economy, greenhouse gas emissions, energy transition, production costs, hydrogen value chain
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