Why the Conversion of Hydrogen H₂Is Still—or More Than Ever—Delayed

Numerous decision-makers in politics, science, and business worldwide have acknowledged that hydrogen H₂ will become one of the most important energy sources of the 21st century if the desired energy transition to carbon-free energy sources is to be taken seriously. Nevertheless, this transition in general and the introduction of H₂ in particular is still progressing far too slowly. There are now countless projects worldwide, including several worth billions of US dollars, but we are still waiting for the breakthrough. There seem to be various reasons for this, not just one single or most important one.Purpose: In the overall context of global earth overheating (often downplayed as “climate change”), hydrogen H2 will undoubtedly play a decisive role as of now. The paper aims to identify the key challenges and propose solutions for establishing a sustainable value chain for market penetration of H₂.Design/methodology/approach: This paper aims to shed light on the current situation using freely accessible publications from global management consultancies and the German government, as well as critical reporting. The problem of human behavior is also explained by the Novak Triangle.Findings: Most people have come to understand that anthropogenic global overheating can only be solved by new technologies (which cost money, time, and behavioral change) in production and application. Hydrogen H₂ appears to be an essential part of the desired solution. Nevertheless, there are currently still numerous challenges and also concrete concerns worldwide, which partially cast the implementation in a questionable light. The findings suggest that establishing a demand and supply of H₂ needs a comprehensive infrastructure, circular economy principles, and changes in consumer behavior and policy frameworks. The paper proposes solutions for addressing these challenges.Affected countries: The situation described here relates to Germany and the EU countries, but it is likely to be comparable, or at least similar, for many industrialized countries. The challenges and solutions proposed in this paper are relevant to countries worldwide that are transitioning to sustainable energy and transportation systems. Research/future/practical implications: As of 2024, it must be stated that the implementation of H₂ is still progressing far too slowly, even in the “model country” Germany. There are still problems and stalling in many places. The biggest challenge seems to be the problem: without demand, there is no supply; without supply, there is no demand. This can then best be achieved with simple “out-of-the-box” solutions in mindset (see Novak triangle). The research implications of this paper include the need for further research on the challenges of establishing a sustainable value chain and the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. The future implications of this paper include the importance of establishing a sustainable value chain to mitigate climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The core point will become the collaboration across the entire value chain to establish a sustainable infrastructure for sustainable energy and transportation systems.Originality/value: Currently, there are virtually no scientific books that would present the overall context of the challenges. Therefore, only current surveys, market volumes, and challenges in environmental and working conditions can be described here. This paper contributes to the literature by analyzing the challenges of establishing a market model for hydrogen H₂. The paper proposes solutions for addressing these challenges and shows difficulties. It provides valuable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers working towards a sustainable energy future.