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Hydrogen is often seen as a key element in the global energy transition, offering a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels—in particular for difficult-to-decarbonize sectors such as heavy-duty transportation and steel and cement manufacturing. But turning hydrogen into a globally traded commodity requires more than just production.

According to new research from UBC Sauder School of Business, hydrogen's commercial success hinges critically on innovation, strategic government policies, and long-term contracts to ensure cost-effective production and scalable trade.

The work is published in the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management.

The study developed an international trade model to examine factors that would make hydrogen producers competitive on the global scale, such as transportation costs, government policies and technological advances.

"Hydrogen has tremendous potential to reshape energy markets," said Dr. Werner Antweiler, associate professor at the UBC Sauder School of Business and co-author of the study. "But making it profitable requires coordinated efforts across governments, industries and markets to reduce costs and build the infrastructure for trade."

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