Navigating through hydrogen - Executive summary

The competitiveness of hydrogen from methane compared to electrolysis depends on the price of the inputs (natural gas or electricity) and the carbon price (Figure 3). [...] 37 Most of the investment cost is related to the capacity (ie the MW) of the appliances that transform electricity into hydrogen and back – while the size of the storage tanks/aquifers (ie the MWh) does not drive cost that much. [...] The challenge for policymak- ers today is to assess the correct level and type of policy support in the context of this un- certainty. [...] Finally, in the context of the current economic crisis, a focus on creating jobs and high multipliers might lead to an underappreciation of the merits of R&D for long-term economic development. [...] Certification scheme for low-carbon hydrogen Developing a system for robust classification of the carbon content for each MWh of hydrogen Knowing the carbon emissions associated with the production of each MWh of hydrogen will be an issue for future hydrogen consumption.