Tracking real-world data on hydrogen in the energy transition

Real-world evidence on hydrogen’s role in the energy transition is accumulating fast. We’ve tracked the public data on hydrogen projects as science plays out in the real world, creating a database to help demonstrate where we should and shouldn’t deploy clean hydrogen.

Hundreds of hydrogen production and infrastructure projects have been announced in recent years, with many initially targeting operations by the mid-2020s. Details of these projects are available via the International Energy Agency’s global database of hydrogen projects.

Yet to date, very little real-world progress has been made on decarbonising existing hydrogen production and use. 99% of the world’s hydrogen is still made from unabated fossil fuels, and each year continues to produce more emissions than the global aviation industry.

At least 100 million tonnes (Mt) of hydrogen is produced globally each year. Just 1% is clean.

Global hydrogen production in 2024

Low-emissions hydrogen Fossil fuel hydrogen
1 Mt
99 Mt
Data reference: IEA Global Hydrogen Review 2025.

Below, our interactive database tool gathers information on both cancelled hydrogen production and end use projects globally since 2021. Entries include traditional projects, along with significant real-world commercial signals or decisions that provide important data on the development of a clean hydrogen market.

Projects include hydrogen buses that have disappeared from view, hydrogen train lines that have reverted back to diesel, hydrogen supply chains that have collapsed, and hydrogen production projects that have been deemed unfeasible.

These projects serve as real-world examples of the technical, efficiency or economic limitations of hydrogen, signalling where renewable energy and electrification are the more feasible routes to decarbonisation.

Together, they offer a reality check that can enable policymakers to revise hydrogen plans with a realistic, targeted and science-based vision of its role in the energy transition: deploying renewable hydrogen to replace current polluting fossil hydrogen first, for use as a chemical rather than as a fuel in a small number of industries without other decarbonisation options, like fertiliser, chemicals, and iron for steelmaking.

Key findings: Cancelled hydrogen production plans

At least 126.5 GW of electrolysis capacity for renewable hydrogen production has been cancelled globally. Of this, more than 80 GW was targeted capacity, with about 40 GW of more firmly planned electrolysers that were ultimately cancelled.

Most production project cancellations are the result of a lack of commercial feasibility, with projects facing high costs, low market readiness, and a lack of committed offtakers.

Geographically, at least 40 hydrogen production projects across Europe, 20 across North America, and 17 across Asia-Pacific have been cancelled or failed since 2021.

The majority of cancelled hydrogen production projects are of low decarbonisation priority for the deployment of hydrogen in the energy transition. Many cancelled production projects are also pilot scale, making them too small to offer a meaningful decarbonisation impact.

This list is non-exhaustive. Please send suggested submissions to [email protected]

Last updated: 1 November 2025

Key findings: Cancelled hydrogen end use plans

Cancelled or failed hydrogen end use applications include transport (cars, buses, trucks, trains, aviation and refuelling infrastructure), export (oceanic supply chains and pipelines), heating, blending, co-firing, power generation and storage.

Most hydrogen end use cancellations or failures result from high costs, operational challenges, a lack of demand or a shortage of hydrogen.

Geographically, at least 70 hydrogen end use plans across Europe, 20 across North America, and 12 across Asia-Pacific have been cancelled or failed since 2021.

All but two of the failed plans are rated as a low priority for the use of clean hydrogen, with direct electrification providing a more economic and efficient decarbonisation option. For example, heating buildings with renewable hydrogen takes 5.5 times more electricity than electric-powered heat pumps, while powering a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle with renewable hydrogen uses three times more electricity than one running on a battery.

This list is non-exhaustive. Please send suggested submissions to [email protected]

Last updated: 26 March 2026