Steelmaking, refining, chemicals and fertilizers are among the activities whose needs cannot all be met through direct electrification. Hydrogen can play a role as a feedstock or energy carrier, but its own production must reduce emissions and remain competitive. The issue is therefore as much about selecting a technology as integrating it into industrial facilities already in operation.
Plasma pyrolysis breaks methane down into hydrogen and solid carbon without directly forming CO₂ in the reaction. A consultancy estimates that this niche market could grow rapidly, but electricity consumption, costs and the commercial value of the carbon remain decisive uncertainties.
Hydrogen inspires major ambitions in industry and energy, but it is not a primary source abundantly available in pure form. It must be produced from water, natural gas or other feedstocks, then stored and transported. Its climate value therefore depends on the energy consumed, manufacturing emissions and intended use. In 2025, low-emissions hydrogen still accounted for less than 1% of global production.
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