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Low Emissions Hydrogen Production Statistics: Output, Pathways and Projects

Global hydrogen output, emissions intensities, electricity factors, capture pathways, project pipelines and production definitions.

November 11, 2026 10 min read hydrogenenginecenter.com Editorial Team

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Low emissions hydrogen production statistics: global output and emissions in 2024–2026

Global low-emissions hydrogen production grew by 10% in 2024, yet the IEA’s 2025 review said it still accounted for less than 1% of global production in the review’s current context. The review does not assign that share to a single calendar year. A separate IEA report put total global hydrogen production near 100 Mt in 2024 and renewable and low-carbon hydrogen output at 0.8 Mt that year. The latter category and the review’s low-emissions category are not necessarily identical, so these figures should be read in their own terms. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2025; IEA, Breakthrough Agenda Report 2025: Hydrogen

The 2026 IEA review reports that global low-emissions production rose from less than 0.6 Mt in 2020 to around 1 Mt in 2025. Its executive summary describes 20% growth in 2025 to almost 1 Mt; these are overlapping descriptions of the same approximate 2025 output. The review expected the low-emissions share to exceed 1% of all hydrogen production in 2026 for the first time. That is a projection, not a reported 2026 result. In the review’s current context, Africa produced around 6 kt of low-emissions hydrogen. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2026: Key questions about hydrogen; IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2026: Executive summary

IndicatorPeriod and scopeReported value
Global hydrogen production, all pathways2024Near 100 Mt
Renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production2024, global0.8 Mt
Low-emissions hydrogen production2025, globalAround 1 Mt; growth of 20%
Low-emissions share of all production2026 projection, globalMore than 1%
Low-emissions hydrogen production2026 review’s current context, AfricaAround 6 kt

These output figures sit alongside much larger emissions estimates for hydrogen production overall. The Breakthrough Agenda report associated production “today” with almost 1,300 Mt CO2-equivalent, including upstream fossil-fuel supply emissions; it notes that by-product allocation affects the estimate. The IEA’s 2025 review attributed roughly 980 Mt CO2 in 2024 to unabated fossil-fuel pathways. The first estimate is broader and uses CO2-equivalent; the second is for 2024 and uses CO2. Neither is an emissions total for low-emissions hydrogen. IEA, Breakthrough Agenda Report 2025: Hydrogen; IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2025

Low emissions hydrogen production statistics: pathway emissions intensity

Emissions intensity expresses greenhouse-gas emissions per kilogram of hydrogen. The value depends on the production route and the boundary used to count emissions. In the global 2023 production context assessed by the IEA in 2024, unabated natural-gas hydrogen emitted 10–12 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2, while unabated coal hydrogen emitted 22–26 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2. The same assessment said nearly two-thirds of production came from unabated natural gas and about 20% from unabated coal. Those shares describe the global production mix, not the low-emissions segment. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2024: GHG emissions of hydrogen and its derivatives

An IEA assessment published in 2023 gives unabated natural-gas hydrogen an intensity range of 10–14 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2 and estimates the global production average in 2021 at 12–13 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2. It also says unabated fossil-fuel hydrogen can reach up to 27 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2, depending on upstream and midstream emissions. The 10–14 range and the later review’s 10–12 range are assessment vintages, not a pair of plant measurements. IEA, Towards Hydrogen Definitions Based on Their Emissions Intensity

Route or benchmarkEmissions intensityScope
Unabated natural gas10–12 kg CO2-eq/kg H22023 production context, assessed 2024
Unabated natural gas10–14 kg CO2-eq/kg H2IEA pathway assessment published 2023
Unabated coal22–26 kg CO2-eq/kg H22023 production context, assessed 2024
Global hydrogen production average12–13 kg CO2-eq/kg H2Estimated global average in 2021
Unabated fossil fuelsUp to 27 kg CO2-eq/kg H2Potential intensity, depending on upstream and midstream emissions

For coal gasification, a scenario with a 93% total capture rate brings the assessed intensity to 2.6–6.3 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2. Hydrogen produced using nuclear electricity is assessed at 0.1–0.3 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2. These are pathway estimates with assumptions; they are not measurements from a common comparison of operating plants. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2023, p. 88

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Hydrogen Production Standard guidance sets a target of 4.0 kg CO2e per kg H2 on a well-to-gate life-cycle basis. This is a policy target, rather than a global average or an observed pathway intensity. The guidance was developed to meet Section 40315 of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. U.S. Department of Energy, Clean Hydrogen Production Standard Guidance

Low emissions hydrogen production statistics: electricity and electrolyser emissions

For electrolytic hydrogen, the electricity source is central to emissions intensity. The IEA’s 2024 review says the electricity-generation factor should be below 200–240 g CO2/kWh for electrolytic hydrogen emissions to be lower than steam methane reforming. That range describes this comparison, not a universal threshold for every hydrogen standard. The review also estimates renewable-asset construction and manufacturing emissions at 0.4–2.7 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2, separate from emissions at the point of electricity generation. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2024: GHG emissions of hydrogen and its derivatives

The IEA’s 2023 assessment illustrates how electricity factors change electrolysis estimates. Under a global-average electricity intensity of 460 g CO2-equivalent/kWh, it estimates hydrogen intensity at 24 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2. Using the cited Swedish electricity factor of 10 g CO2-equivalent/kWh, it reports electrolysis emissions as low as 0.5 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2. The report gives nuclear fuel-cycle emissions as 2.4–6.8 g CO2-equivalent/kWh. Separately, the IPHE methodology described in the IEA definitions report assigns renewable electricity generation 0 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2 in its electrolysis calculation, excluding renewable-asset construction emissions. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2023, p. 88; IEA, Towards Hydrogen Definitions Based on Their Emissions Intensity

Electrolyser capacity measures equipment deployment, not the amount of hydrogen produced. Global installed water-electrolysis capacity reached 2 GW in 2024. More than 1 GW was added globally through July 2025 on top of that figure. In the 2025 review, China accounted for 65% of global installed electrolysis capacity and capacity that had reached final investment decision. The 2026 review reports that installed global electrolysis capacity more than doubled in 2025 to exceed 4 GW. It also reports more than 2.5 GW under construction and targeting operation in 2026; this is planned capacity, not capacity already operating. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2025; IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2026: Production

Low emissions hydrogen production statistics: carbon capture and upstream emissions

The IEA reports that 75–95% of hydrogen-production emissions occur directly at the production point in the 2023 global production context. Capture at a plant can therefore address a substantial share of emissions, while upstream emissions remain relevant. For natural-gas steam methane reforming, the 2024 review estimates abatement costs of USD 60–85 per tonne CO2 at capture rates of 55–70%, and USD 85–110 per tonne CO2 at rates above 90%. Each cost range belongs to its stated capture-rate scenario. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2024: GHG emissions of hydrogen and its derivatives

For unabated natural-gas hydrogen, upstream and midstream methane and CO2 emissions account for 1–5 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2 in the IEA definitions assessment. Retrofitting existing natural-gas assets with around 60% capture of feedstock-related CO2 is associated with a route intensity of 5–8 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2. For advanced capture rates above 90%, the assessed intensity is 0.8–6 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2; the report said no plants using those technologies were operating at publication. Even at high capture rates, upstream and midstream emissions account for 0.7–5 kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2. Capture rate alone therefore does not specify full life-cycle intensity. IEA, Towards Hydrogen Definitions Based on Their Emissions Intensity

For coal-based hydrogen, more than 80% of the emissions intensity comes from direct emissions at the production plant, with less than 20% linked to coal mining, processing and transport. The IEA estimated around 0.6 Mt per year of fossil-fuel hydrogen production with CCUS qualified as low-emissions in 2022. Total hydrogen production at facilities equipped with CCUS was 0.8–1.2 Mt. The qualifying low-emissions quantity and all production at equipped facilities are distinct totals. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2023, pp. 77, 88

The same report said that 16 hydrogen facilities worldwide were equipped with CCUS, capturing around 11 Mt CO2 per year. Its count includes only projects with capture capacity above 100,000 tonnes CO2 per year, so it describes facilities meeting that inclusion rule. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2023, p. 77

Low emissions hydrogen production statistics: current output and committed project pipeline

Project announcements, final investment decisions (FID), operating plants and committed production represent different stages. The IEA’s 2025 review counted more than 200 low-emissions hydrogen production projects that had received FID since 2020. Announced projects could produce 37 Mtpa by 2030, but that is potential from announcements, not realized production. Electrolysis projects accounted for more than 80% of the total decline in announced production potential between the 2024 and 2025 reviews. Projects at FID represented 9% of the total pipeline to 2030. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2025

The same review projected 4.2 Mtpa by 2030 from projects already operational or at FID. It also identified an additional 6 Mt of announced project potential that could become operational by 2030 if effective policies created demand and facilitated offtake. The first figure is a projection based on projects at more advanced stages; the additional potential is conditional. Neither is a record of future delivered output. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2025

In the 2026 review, the announced pipeline stood at 27 Mt by 2030 after a 10 Mt reduction. Committed production grew by 3%, reaching 4.3 Mt by 2030. It could rise to more than 6 Mt by 2030 if projects with strong operational potential reach FID in 2026 or 2027. These numbers refer to distinct project statuses and conditions; they should not be added together as output forecasts. IEA, Global Hydrogen Review 2026: Production

Pipeline measureReview vintageAmount or shareStatus
Announced production potential by 2030202537 MtpaAnnounced projects
Projects at FID20259% of pipelineShare of pipeline to 2030
Operational or FID output by 203020254.2 MtpaProjected production
Announced pipeline by 2030202627 MtAnnounced potential
Committed output by 203020264.3 MtProjected committed production

low emissions hydrogen production: Hydrogen production thresholds, definitions and measurement limits

“Low-emissions” does not name one production method or one accounting boundary. The figures here include pathway intensity assessments, a U.S. well-to-gate target and source categories such as renewable and low-carbon hydrogen. A calculation using electricity-generation emissions alone can differ from a life-cycle figure that also includes equipment construction or upstream fuel supply. For example, the DOE’s 4.0 kg CO2e per kg H2 target is explicitly well-to-gate, while the IPHE treatment described by the IEA assigns renewable generation zero in the electrolysis calculation and excludes renewable-asset construction. U.S. Department of Energy, Clean Hydrogen Production Standard Guidance; IEA, Towards Hydrogen Definitions Based on Their Emissions Intensity

National production totals do not automatically indicate low-emissions output. France’s SDES estimated 237,000 tonnes of pure hydrogen, or 7.9 TWh, in 2024, an increase of 3.9% from revised 2023 figures. Its definition of pure hydrogen is at least 98% by mass. In 2024, 72% of production came from natural gas without carbon capture, 10% from natural-gas reforming or partial oxidation with carbon capture, and electrolysis accounted for 11%. The capture share does not by itself establish that this hydrogen met a low-emissions threshold. SDES expanded its producer survey in 2024 and notes that some quantities are estimates. SDES, French pure-hydrogen production and uses in 2024

When comparing these statistics, retain each figure’s period, unit, population and boundary. Mt per year, GW of installed equipment, kg CO2-equivalent per kg H2 and g CO2/kWh describe different measures. Announced capacity is not production, capture rate is not full emissions intensity, and a national pure-hydrogen total is not a low-emissions total.

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