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<p>Despite the role of hydrogen in decarbonization, its production is largely based on fossil fuels, while comparing production pathways is challenging due to heterogeneity in system boundaries, data fragmentation, and a single-dimensional focus on cost and emissions. This review provides a multi-scale, transition-oriented framework for assessing gray, blue, turquoise, green, carbon-negative, and emerging hydrogen pathways to support technology selection based on regional conditions, industrial maturity, and policy rationale. The literature was critically screened and coded at four scales: process, unit, deployment, and transition. Indicators including reaction mechanisms, thermodynamic performance, capital expenditure (CAPEX), operating expenditure (OPEX), levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), technology readiness level (TRL), and scalability were compared. Steam methane reforming (SMR), autothermal reforming (ATR), partial oxidation (POX) and coal gasification are well-established pathways in terms of cost, scale and reliability; however, their low-carbon deployment depends on carbon capture and storage (CCS). Renewable-based electrolysis can have very low life-cycle emissions, but its performance depends on the price and carbon intensity of electricity, water availability, membrane and catalyst durability and storage infrastructure. Thermochemical cycles, methane pyrolysis and photochemical, biological, plasma-assisted, microwave-assisted and bioenergy hydrogen production with carbon capture and storage (HyBECCS) pathways are promising, but face capital constraints and scaling challenges. Therefore, the hydrogen transition needs to be designed through smart and region-specific adaptations between technology, markets, carbon pricing, certification and infrastructure.</p>

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Hydrogen production pathways for the low-carbon transition: a multi-scale critical review

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月28日

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  • Xiaoyan Ma,
  • Jian Xue,
  • Tianmei Ma

摘要

Despite the role of hydrogen in decarbonization, its production is largely based on fossil fuels, while comparing production pathways is challenging due to heterogeneity in system boundaries, data fragmentation, and a single-dimensional focus on cost and emissions. This review provides a multi-scale, transition-oriented framework for assessing gray, blue, turquoise, green, carbon-negative, and emerging hydrogen pathways to support technology selection based on regional conditions, industrial maturity, and policy rationale. The literature was critically screened and coded at four scales: process, unit, deployment, and transition. Indicators including reaction mechanisms, thermodynamic performance, capital expenditure (CAPEX), operating expenditure (OPEX), levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), technology readiness level (TRL), and scalability were compared. Steam methane reforming (SMR), autothermal reforming (ATR), partial oxidation (POX) and coal gasification are well-established pathways in terms of cost, scale and reliability; however, their low-carbon deployment depends on carbon capture and storage (CCS). Renewable-based electrolysis can have very low life-cycle emissions, but its performance depends on the price and carbon intensity of electricity, water availability, membrane and catalyst durability and storage infrastructure. Thermochemical cycles, methane pyrolysis and photochemical, biological, plasma-assisted, microwave-assisted and bioenergy hydrogen production with carbon capture and storage (HyBECCS) pathways are promising, but face capital constraints and scaling challenges. Therefore, the hydrogen transition needs to be designed through smart and region-specific adaptations between technology, markets, carbon pricing, certification and infrastructure.