The Hydrogen Economy: Connecting the Dots Across Continents
As a materials engineer with over 22 years of experience spanning academia, industry, and strategic advisory roles, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative potential of the hydrogen economy. From developing advanced coatings to reduce electrolyser costs to advising on ESG strategies, the common thread is clear: hydrogen will play a pivotal role in our sustainable energy future.
Some key trends I’m seeing across the North America, LatAm, and UK:
🌎 Policy support is accelerating. The US Inflation Reduction Act is a game-changer with its clean hydrogen tax credits. The UK’s doubling of its 2030 production target to 10GW demonstrates serious ambition. LatAm countries like Chile and Colombia are positioning to be major green hydrogen exporters.
🔬 Innovation is thriving. Technological advancements in electrolysis, storage, and transportation are driving down costs. Novel materials and surface engineering techniques are enhancing performance and durability across the value chain. International collaboration is spurring breakthroughs.
🏭 Demand is diversifying. From decarbonizing heavy industry to powering fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen use cases are proliferating. Sectors like steel, chemicals, shipping, and aviation are recognizing hydrogen’s unique decarbonization potential. Regional hubs are emerging to integrate supply and demand.
However, scaling the hydrogen economy is a complex, multi-faceted challenge. It will require unprecedented coordination across policy, technology, infrastructure, and market development. And this is where I believe cross-disciplinary collaboration will be key.
By connecting experts in materials science, engineering, policy, and finance, we can accelerate the innovations needed to unlock hydrogen’s full potential. Surface engineering in particular has a critical role to play, as advanced coatings and materials are essential for efficient, durable, and cost-effective hydrogen technologies.
I’m excited to be part of this global effort to build a sustainable hydrogen future. Let’s continue to share knowledge, forge partnerships, and drive the breakthroughs that will power a cleaner tomorrow.
What hydrogen developments are you seeing in your region? How can we strengthen international collaboration to accelerate progress? I’d love to hear your thoughts!