Hydrogen is now enjoying new interest in its potential to penetrate and transform the global energy enterprise with bold visions of a Hydrogen Economy. A brief history of hydrogen will show that the fuel enjoyed similar waves of interest in hydrogen during the 1970s and the 2000s. This third act of hydrogen sounds promising and may be the charm given broader and deeper global interest in decarbonization along with significant advances in its production, storage, transportation, and utilization.
ADI’s research and prior consulting work for a broad range of clients has shown that hydrogen production via electrolysis, pyrolysis, and gasification are all improving their cost competitiveness. Incumbent processes to produce hydrogen such as steam reforming of methane are also making efforts to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. Similar advances are underway in storing and transporting hydrogen by leveraging existing natural gas pipelines. Finally, ADI’s surveys, voice-of-customer research, and due diligence projects have highlighted significant interest in using hydrogen in a broad range of applications that can be developed and commercialized within a few years as opposed to exponential growth in consumption for transportation markets.
How ADI helps clients on hydrogen
ADI has helped a broad range of clients on various aspects of hydrogen. Our clients on hydrogen include oil majors, refiners and fuel producers, midstream pipeline operators, chemical companies, early-stage start-ups, end-users such as steel and glass producers, industrial companies manufacturing compressors, pumps, and fuel dispensing units, and investors. We have helped these clients with a broad set of needs including but not limited to the following:
- Scenario planning to assess scope and pace of hydrogen penetration in the energy economy
- Cost and economic modeling of various types of hydrogen production and generation
- Competitive benchmarking of hydrogen production processes, technologies, and pathways
- Technology maturity assessment for hydrogen storage, transportation, and fueling
- Industrial equipment needs analysis in hydrogen with market sizing and competitive landscaping
- Early-stage technology start-up commercialization, go-to-market, and partnership strategies
- Near-term hydrogen application and end-user opportunity assessments and identification
- In-depth analyses of total costs of ownership of hydrogen-based transportation
Relevant examples
A few examples of our work in hydrogen sector are presented here. Please contact us to learn more about how ADI can help you.
Technology assessment
- Assessed compact hydrogen generation technology for R&D lab
- Profiled electrolysis technologies for hydrogen production for OEM with focus of costs and technology adaptiveness and maturity
- Provided due diligence support with assessing the diaphragm compressor and hydrogen refueling equipment markets for a private equity firm
Costs and economics
- Estimated hydrogen supply costs by option for chemical major
- Compared hydrogen supply costs for new plasma-based process for start-up
- Analyzed the digital spending outlook for hydrogen through 2050 for a technology major
- Conducted an economic assessment of hydrogen production using various technologies for a client with a proprietary technology
Competitive landscaping
- Surveyed hydrogen storage start-ups for leading government agency
- Benchmarked leading hydrogen suppliers for U.S. refiner
Commercialization strategy
- Identified potential market applications for new hydrogen process for investor
- Analyzed market for small-scale hydrogen applications such as steel, glass, and food industry and helped the client in looking for potential partners for a pilot project in North America
- Advised national oil company on low-carbon hydrogen technology strategy
- Recommended potential partners for industry association on hydrogen
- Developed strategic implications for OEM on hydrogen economy
Access our thinking
ADI is a thought leader in hydrogen sector. Access our latest thinking including blog posts, white papers, conference presentations, and videos on the ADI insights section.
