Hydrogen economy and sustainable development goals: Review and policy insights

Hydrogen as a clean, reliable and potentially sustainable energy vector has attracted growing interest for promoting the sustainable development of both industry and society worldwide. Hydrogen is a rising enabler for a multisectorial transition toward a low-carbon economy based on renewable energy sources. Nevertheless, there is a lack of literature scientifically scrutinizing the relationships between a hydrogen economy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In this article, we argue that the new role of hydrogen takes effect as a game changer and review the policy framework for a hydrogen economy with respect to the prospects of success and its timing and to its role in supporting to reach the Goal 7, i.e. ‘affordable and clean energy’.