Hydrogen

Report: DNV revises down mid-century hydrogen outlook by 35%

DNV has revised down its mid-century hydrogen outlook since its previous hydrogen forecast in 2022 due to a lack of policy support which has led to early ambition failing to convert to large-scale projects.

Published

2 months ago

May 13, 2026

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Report: DNV revises down mid-century hydrogen outlook by 35%

The hydrogen industry has faced several challenges in recent years and this is reflected in DNV’s latest Energy Transition Outlook Hydrogen to 2060 report, the classification society said on Tuesday (12 May).

DNV said it has revised down its mid-century hydrogen outlook by 35% since its previous hydrogen forecast in 2022 primarily due to a lack of policy support which has led to early ambition failing to convert to large-scale projects.

The forecast also reflected continued progress in electrification technologies, which has reduced hydrogen’s role in some sectors previously expected to adopt it.

DNV still forecasted that clean hydrogen will grow 100-fold from today’s levels by 2060.

Overall hydrogen volumes will grow by 170% and will see cumulative investments of USD 3.2trn to 2060. China is set to lead that expansion, accounting for 35% of new hydrogen production and use over the forecast period.

Clean hydrogen uptake is expected to be strongest in emerging demand sectors by 2060, led by steelmaking (18% of total clean hydrogen use), aviation (18%) and maritime (15%). The established demand sectors, fertilizer and methanol, are also decarbonizing large parts of their supply chains and are each expected to account for around 13% of clean hydrogen use.

“The hydrogen industry is poised for growth, but it is a fragile stance. Hydrogen completes the most difficult aspects of the decarbonization drive that so many nations have committed to. In driving fossil dependency out of critical sectors, hydrogen also contributes meaningfully to energy security. It is time for policymakers to study carefully the practical progress that has been made and to act decisively,” said Ditlev Engel, CEO, Energy Systems at DNV.

DNV forecasted that half of new renewable electrolysis-based capacity added by 2030 will be installed in Europe and China. China holds 60% of global electrolyser manufacturing capacity and it will couple this with its solar and wind capacity to become the dominant global renewable hydrogen producer.

Energy security becoming a decisive driver

Energy security will likely emerge as a decisive driver of hydrogen investment and policy, as governments in energy importing countries seek to reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets and protect critical industries. The current geopolitical situation is accelerating final investment decisions, with 10 Mt/yr of renewable electrolysis-based capacity added by 2030 on top of 1.5 Mt/yr installed in 2025. Additionally, instability in the Middle East will likely boost coal-based hydrogen used for ammonia and fertilizer production in the medium-term to maintain food security.  

Closing the safety confidence gap

DNV also warned that growth depends on closing a safety confidence gap and documenting emissions reductions credibly. Lessons from pilots are informing industrial-scale design and procedures, but scaling is not a copy-and-paste exercise for either cost or safety assumptions. Stronger standardization and whole-system approaches to safety, verification, and certification are needed to build trust and enable substantial investment capital.

“Going forward, it is about fine-tuning the regulations, implementing these in legislation, and verifying safety concepts, documenting technical performance, and certifying emission reductions. That is how renewable and low carbon hydrogen can make a difference for hard-to-electrify sectors,” said Magnus Killingland, Global Segment Lead Hydrogen.

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 12 May, 2026

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Alternative Fuels

Verra releases new methodology for alternative low-carbon bunker fuels

New methodology provides the first structured, independent accounting framework for quantifying emission reductions in maritime transport, bridging a critical regulatory gap in global trade.

Published

1 week ago

June 22, 2026

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Verra, a nonprofit organisation that develops and manages the standards for climate and sustainable development, recently released a new methodology in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Programme, VM0053 Alternative Low-Carbon Fuels for Shipping, v1.0.

Verra said the methodology provides the first structured, independent accounting framework for quantifying emission reductions in maritime transport, bridging a critical regulatory gap in global trade and enabling the related climate benefits to scale.

VM0053 applies to project activities that involve using low-carbon alternative fuels (e.g., hydrogen produced through water electrolysis, green ammonia, and electro fuels [e-fuels] such as e-LNG, e-LPG, e-diesel, and e-methanol) to replace fossil fuels in shipping.

The methodology applies to new or existing ships, regardless of gross tonnage, operating in territorial or high seas.

Verra added that maritime shipping carries over 80% of global freight and remains a hard-to-abate sector where reducing greenhouse gas emissions has proven to be challenging.

“This methodology helps unlock finance for low-carbon alternative fuels by creating a new revenue stream that can offset the high premium associated with e-fuels,” it said.

“It supports the use of drop-in alternative fuels that can be used to displace fossil fuels in the engines of existing fleets, leveraging these fleets to realise emission reductions. Additionally, this methodology provides a credible mechanism for sourcing, verifying, and scaling reductions in value chain emissions.”

VMD0053 was developed by Iino Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd., Grütter Consulting, and Verra. The methodology underwent public consultation in 2024 as part of Verra’s methodology development process.

Note: The new methodology ‘VM0053 Alternative Low-Carbon Fuels for Shipping, v1.0’ can be viewed here.

Photo credit: CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
Published: 22 June, 2026

Engine

BeHydro secures LR’s first class approval for 100% hydrogen marine engine

Engine has been developed and tested at ABC Engines’ facility in Ghent and is designed to operate entirely on hydrogen, without the need for pilot fuels.

Published

1 week ago

June 19, 2026

Admin

BeHydro secures LR’s first class approval for 100% hydrogen marine engine

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) on Wednesday (17 June) said it has issued the first Type Approval Certificate for a 100% hydrogen-fuelled, spark-ignited marine engine.

The approval has been awarded to the hydrogen engine developed by BeHydro and confirms the design meets LR’s requirements for safety, performance and reliability in marine applications.

The engine has been developed and tested at ABC Engines’ facility in Ghent and is designed to operate entirely on hydrogen, without the need for pilot fuels. This simplifies system design and removes onboard carbon emissions at source, positioning the technology as a practical option for operators exploring zero-carbon propulsion.

Claudene Sharp-Patel, Global Technical Director, Lloyd’s Register, said: “The issue of this Type Approval Certificate demonstrates that hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine technology is continuing to mature as a viable option for maritime applications.

“For shipowners and operators, independent certification is essential in building confidence that emerging fuel technologies can meet the industry’s expectations for safety, reliability and operational performance.”

Tim Berckmoes, CEO at ABC Engines, said: “This LRS type approval of our BeHydro 100% hydrogen engines with zero emissions is a confirmation of the future proof technology that BeHydro can offer to innovative shipowners worldwide.

“The 100% hydrogen engine range is available from 900 kW till 2670 kW for different marine applications.”

LR previously awarded Type Approval to BeHydro for its hydrogen-powered dual-fuel engine in 2023, which was the first Type Approval for a dual-fuel hydrogen engine.

Photo credit: Lloyd’s Register
Published: 19 June, 2026

Hydrogen

LH2 Shipping wins Enova funding for two more liquid hydrogen-powered bulk carriers

Company secured USD 36 million for the development and construction of two additional liquid hydrogen-powered bulk carriers.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 17, 2026

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LH2 Shipping wins Enova funding for two more liquid hydrogen-powered bulk carriers

Norway’s LH2 Shipping on Tuesday (16 June) said it has been awarded Enova support of NOK 344.3 million (USD 36 million) for the development and construction of two additional liquid hydrogen-powered bulk carriers.

With the latest award, LH2 Shipping is now involved in the development of six hydrogen-powered bulk carrier projects. The announcement builds on previous Enova-supported vessel initiatives and reflects growing momentum for liquid hydrogen as a viable fuel alternative for short-sea shipping to meet decarbonising policy goals.

The new projects represent a continuation of LH2 Shipping’s long-term strategy to establish commercially viable hydrogen-powered vessels while contributing to the development of the supporting fuel and bunkering infrastructure required for large-scale adoption.

“This award is an important strategic milestone for LH2 Shipping,” stated Ivan Østvik, CEO of LH2 Shipping.

“It strengthens our position as a developer of liquid hydrogen-based zero-emission vessel solutions and brings us yet another step closer to our ambition of enabling a substantial fleet of hydrogen-powered vessels that can help establish a complete maritime liquid hydrogen value chain.”

Since introducing the world’s first hydrogen-powered bulk carrier projects, LH2 Shipping has focused on moving beyond demonstration concepts toward commercially deployable vessels. The addition of vessels five and six further expands the project portfolio and supports continued industrial learning across ship design, fuel systems, operations, and infrastructure.

The Enova support will indirectly enable LH2 Shipping to continue their work developing additional zero-emission solutions for passenger transport and offshore operations, supporting Norway’s broader transition toward a low-emission maritime sector.

“If we are to succeed in the transition to low and zero emission solutions in the maritime sector, we depend on players who dare to go first. LH2 Shipping shows how shipping companies can take the lead and adopt new technology. This is crucial to accelerating development and reducing emissions from shipping,” said Head of Hydrogen and Ammonia Initiatives, Elin Ulstad Stokland at Enova.

This latest Enova award brings total support for the six vessels to more than NOK 800 million and reinforces the momentum behind hydrogen-powered shipping in Norway. Through these projects, LH2 Shipping is offering ship operators to decarbonise bulk transport at scale while contributing to the development of the infrastructure and experience needed for wider industry adoption.

Photo credit: LH2 Shipping
Published: 17 June, 2026