Supply–demand strategies for near-term climate benefits from hydrogen in the United States

Hydrogen (H2) is critical for energy decarbonization. Previous H2 research has overlooked key dynamics in H2 supply and demand. Our study reveals that the H2 supply mix is crucial for greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, with biomass-based H2 providing substantial reductions in the near term when carbon pricing or large-scale advanced water electrolysis is unavailable. On the demand side, our results identify a misalignment between H2 deployment and GHG mitigation intensity: industrial sectors show higher GHG mitigation intensity but receive limited H2, while transportation sectors consume most H2 despite lower mitigation intensity. This highlights missed opportunities for maximizing emissions reductions. Our findings underscore the need to integrate clean H2 production incentives with sector-specific demand-side strategies to support national decarbonization goals.