Industrial gas major Linde is going all-in on blue hydrogen in the US market. The company announced last month that 90% of its clean hydrogen projects in the US will now be blue hydrogen, in a move driven by regulatory constraints and shifting market dynamics.
The decision is part of a growing trend: despite green hydrogen’s long-term promise, blue hydrogen is dominating near-term investment. Analysts expect the US to solidify its position as a leading blue hydrogen producer by the end of 2025, with at least three large-scale projects reaching final investment decisions (FIDs). ExxonMobil, Air Products, and Linde are leading the charge, betting on carbon capture and storage (CCS) to align hydrogen production with emissions targets.
But while industry giants double down on blue hydrogen, critics continue to argue it may be an expensive detour that locks in fossil fuel use.
With a likely pro-fossil fuel Trump administration on the horizon and policy uncertainty in flux, is blue hydrogen cementing itself as the dominant hydrogen solution – or could it prove to be a temporary and workaround that does not ultimately deliver? With so much happening, and so much uncertainty, it is worth taking stock.
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