TotalEnergies and Air Liquide's Bold Move in Green Hydrogen
Paris, Thursday, 9 October 2025.
TotalEnergies and Air Liquide invest heavily in green hydrogen, aiming to decarbonise industry. Despite its promise, production and storage challenges remain. Worth noting: hydrogen demand tripled since 1975!
Green Hydrogen: A Game-Changer?
Green hydrogen is hailed as a revolution in clean energy, offering a path to decarbonise industries that were once reliant on fossil fuels. TotalEnergies and Air Liquide’s recent investment underscores this potential. They aim to leverage renewable energy-powered electrolysis to produce hydrogen without carbon emissions. This innovation could lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gases, positioning green hydrogen as a cornerstone of future energy strategies. However, only 1% of today’s global hydrogen production is from renewable sources, highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead [1].
Investment and Innovation
TotalEnergies and Air Liquide are leading the charge with over €1 billion in investments to develop large-scale electrolysers. These facilities are expected to transform their refineries in Northern Europe into low-carbon operations. Emilie Mouren-Renouard of Air Liquide emphasised their commitment to pioneering European renewable hydrogen production [1]. The global demand for green hydrogen is projected to reach 530 million tonnes by 2050, potentially creating an export market valued at $300 billion annually [1].
Challenges Ahead
Despite the optimism, the road to widespread green hydrogen adoption is not without hurdles. The production process requires massive investments in renewable energy infrastructure and the development of robust storage and distribution networks. Moreover, hydrogen’s low energy density compared to fossil fuels presents additional technical challenges [1]. Nonetheless, the potential for green hydrogen to meet 12% of global energy demand by 2050 remains a powerful motivator [1].
A Global Perspective
Countries worldwide are recognising the strategic importance of green hydrogen. For instance, Poland recently committed €500 million to expand its hydrogen infrastructure under the EU Recovery Plan [2]. In India, initiatives under the National Hydrogen Mission aim to position the country as a global leader in hydrogen production and export [3]. These efforts reflect a global consensus on the need for sustainable energy solutions [GPT].
The Future of Green Hydrogen
As the world strives for net-zero emissions, green hydrogen could become a key player in reaching these targets. The International Renewable Energy Agency projects hydrogen could meet a significant portion of global energy needs by mid-century. However, achieving these goals will require coordinated international efforts and continued innovation in hydrogen technology [1].