The International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association (IHFCA) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) have jointly released a new report, Hydrogen Storage, Transportation and Utilization: Development Status, Key Challenges and Strategic Opportunities, providing a comprehensive assessment of the current status of hydrogen storage, transportation and end-use, together with recommendations for accelerating the development of an efficient, safe and commercially viable hydrogen value chain.
As hydrogen deployment moves from pilot projects toward large-scale commercialization, the report highlights that storage, transportation and end-use have become the critical link between hydrogen production and market demand. While China has become the world's largest hydrogen producer and consumer, further progress will depend on addressing infrastructure gaps, improving system economics and strengthening coordination across the hydrogen value chain.
The report presents an overview of China's hydrogen storage and transportation landscape, reviews the characteristics of major technology pathways—including compressed gaseous hydrogen, pipelines, liquid hydrogen, liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) and solid-state hydrogen storage—and examines representative demonstration projects that illustrate emerging deployment models across the country.
The study identifies two priority areas requiring sustained attention. First, building integrated hydrogen supply chains by better connecting production, storage, transportation and end-use to improve regional coordination and enable large-scale hydrogen deployment. Second, strengthening the enabling environment through continued technology innovation, cost reduction, standards development, regulatory coordination and expanded demonstration across multiple application sectors, including industry, transport and energy storage.
Developed jointly by IHFCA and EDF, the report is intended to support policymakers, industry stakeholders and the wider hydrogen community with practical insights for building resilient hydrogen infrastructure and advancing the transition toward a low-carbon hydrogen economy.