In search of the real price of blue hydrogen

Summary

Despite media claims that blue hydrogen is cheaper than green, no commercial project meets the emissions standards required for truly low-carbon hydrogen. These standards require over 95% carbon capture, near-zero methane leakage, and permanent CO2 storage, none of which have been reliably demonstrated at scale.

Cost comparisons often rely on optimistic assumptions that do not reflect real-world performance. Without rigorous scrutiny, these claims risk misleading the public and delaying progress on the energy transition. Blue hydrogen could play a role in a net zero future, but only if it is held to the same standards of transparency, accountability, and emissions performance as green hydrogen.