If deployed at scale, hydrogen could cover around one fifth of energy consumption by 2050. This would consequently lead to a significant reduction in annual CO2 emissions compared to current levels, contributing to the 20 per cent reduction needed to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius. This is what emerged from the study Hydrogen, Scaling up, produced by the consultancy firm McKinsey, which outlined a comprehensive roadmap to explain the impact hydrogen could have on the energy transition. The research was presented during what was defined as "The Hydrogen Council", namely the gathering of 18 global industry leaders at the Cop23 climate conference in Bonn, Germany, last November.

Hydrogen for cars, and beyond

The Hydrogen Council envisions a potential for hydrogen to power between 10 and 15 million cars and around 500,000 trucks by 2030. But the possible applications in other sectors are varied: industrial processes, heating systems, energy supply or storage. More broadly, the study forecasts that annual demand for hydrogen could increase tenfold by 2050, covering 18 per cent of total energy demand. And at a time when global population growth of around two billion people is projected over the next thirty years, hydrogen-related technologies appear to represent a concrete potential in the pursuit of sustainable economic growth.

Toyota at the forefront

Among the 18 members of the Hydrogen Council's committee, which has called on investors, policymakers and businesses to find a solution to this transition as soon as possible, was Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Toyota, the carmaker that, through its strong commitment to developing the Mirai hydrogen saloon, has demonstrated its firm belief in this technology: "Hydrogen represents an indispensable resource for achieving this kind of change, helping us to harness renewable resources such as wind and solar energy in the context of transport and many other areas," said Uchiyamada. "The Hydrogen Council has identified seven different areas for hydrogen, and this is why we are encouraging governments and investors to assign it a central role in their energy plans. The sooner we reach a hydrogen-based economy, the sooner we will be able to turn this dream into reality." The investments required for the transition to hydrogen have been estimated by the study at between 20 and 25 billion dollars per year, for a total of around 280 billion through to 2030.