A meta-review of 54 studies on hydrogen heating

Abstract

In the context of achieving net zero climate targets, heating poses a significant decarbonization challenge, with buildings contributing substantially to global energy consumption and carbon emissions. While enhancing energy efficiency in building fabric can reduce emissions, complete elimination is not feasible while relying on fossil-fuel-based heating systems. Hydrogen has been suggested for decarbonizing buildings in recent years as a potential solution for replacing fossil-fuel heating. This paper carries out a meta-review of 54 independent studies to assess the scientific evidence for using hydrogen for heating buildings. The analysis concludes that the scientific evidence does not support a major role for hydrogen in cost-optimal decarbonization pathways being associated with higher energy system and consumer costs. Electrification and district heating are deemed preferable due to higher efficiency and lower costs in the majority of analyzed studies.