The International Energy Agency said that the transition to cleaner energy sources such as renewables and green hydrogen required a strong governance ecosystem. IEA’s analyst Dr Peter Zeniewski said policymakers also need to look for “bankable” business models to unlock the fuel potential of clean fuels, supported by private funding.
He pointed out that hydrogen could provide a long-term solution for sectors that are hard to decarbonise. However, the fuel needs a complex supply chain and faces a lot of uncertainties to be scaled up. It also requires both new and repurposed infrastructure, supportive policies, market reforms, and research and development.
This work will require time and new technologies. For example, hydrogen bristles steel. Hence, repurposing existing natural gas pipelines will require new technology to prevent or reduce embrittlement. Ultimately, new pipelines must be constructed, but they will need high investments.
