How realistic is a hydrogen-powered economy?

While industry analysts can see a viable path to greater hydrogen supply, it is less clear how the demand side pans out. — Bloomberg

CLEAN-BURNING hydrogen has been hyped as a potential solution to a swath of climate-related energy problems, from fuelling trucks and powering industry to generating electricity – all while emitting only puffs of harmless vapour.

The fuel is getting backing from an array of influential stakeholders, including fossil fuel firms which hope to avoid future stranded oil and gas assets by switching to the production, distribution and storage of hydrogen instead.