Table 1 Barriers and Solutions for Scaling Up Hydrogen Mobility
From: Rethinking hydrogen mobility at a strategic crossroads
Barrier Dimension | Specific Manifestations | Proposed Solutions |
|---|---|---|
Resource–Demand Mismatch & Fragmented Infrastructure | - Hydrogen is produced far from major demand centers. - Refueling stations are sparse and disconnected. - Long-distance transport and grid limits raise delivery costs and risks. | - Develop integrated production–consumption hubs (e.g., Hydrogen Valleys, port logistics zones). - Deploy modular and mobile refueling stations. - Encourage on-site production at mobility hubs. |
Academia–Industry–Policy Disconnection | - Technical standards and protocols are fragmented, leading to incompatible systems and duplicated R&D efforts. - Technology transfer from lab to market is slow. | - Accelerate standard-setting through national and international alliances. - Establish integrated R&D–deployment platforms with shared targets. - Establish mid-scale pilot funds and early public procurement to bridge lab-to-market gaps. |
Market & Policy Lock-in | - Reliance on subsidies and uncertain returns undermine private investment - Policy volatility creates investment risk and planning uncertainty. - Users experience “refueling anxiety.” | - Guarantee multi-year incentives for large-scale, long-term projects. - Prioritize “anchor” applications (e.g., freight, buses, ports) with high and predictable demand. - Set clear and stable regulatory timelines for project approvals and market entry. |
Social & Institutional Barriers | - Public narrative swings between hype and dismissal. - Approval and permitting are slow and fragmented. - Limited cross-department coordination. | - Create fast-track approval channels for hydrogen infrastructure in key demonstration zones. - Build a typology of fit-for-purpose deployment scenarios and national guidance frameworks. |
Environmental & Resource Constraints | - Electrolysis requires significant water; many transport hubs are water-stressed. - Land requirements clash with dense urban and industrial zones. - Grid congestion and renewable energy intermittency restrict large-scale hydrogen production. | - Promote by-product hydrogen and low-water electrolysis. - Deploy small-scale electrolyzers to reduce transport and land needs. - Co-locate hydrogen production with industry to share water, land, and energy resources. |
