Jules Verne Style’ stories on the role of Hydrogen in 2030s and 2040s
Have you ever wondered how the hydrogen economy will look in 2030 and 2040? Energy writers around the globe have joined their efforts to share their vision and knowledge about how hydrogen could change our lives in an instructive manner.
Under the mantra ‘Imagining the future is delivering it’, 28 people around the globe, from hydrogen passionados (enthusiasts) to energy realists, have contributed to the book ‘Touching Hydrogen Future: Tour around the globe’. With a foreword from former EU Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, each of the book’s 27 chapters focuses on a specific country, providing a snapshot of hydrogen-powered life over the next twenty years. Starting in the Netherlands, the book’s ‘hydrogen tour’ covers countries across six continents with insights from experts from every corner of the globe in a Jules Verne style odyssey.
The book has been written to educate and inspire the next generation to embrace and help develop hydrogen technology. It contains a series of short stories about a hypothetical future where hydrogen is the norm. While it is pitched at energy professionals and students with an interest in energy and sustainability, it is freely available for all, allowing readers from any background to access its insights. ‘Touching Hydrogen Future’ aims to highlight the diverse, and global opportunities in the developing hydrogen economy, encouraging readers to consider a career in the industry.
* Based on editors’ calculations for 2030 of available strategies of countries referred in the book. The books stories – if to be an indicator of uncertainty could equally see the countries reach about 1/3 of quoted capacity, with capacity strongly rising by 2040s.
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COUNTRIES REACHED
28 authors contributed to this book. In alphabetic order:
click on author to open LinkedIn profile
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it. This book does just that.”
“By 2030, Namibia is to become the ‘Energy Port of Africa.’ Prior to becoming a hydrogen superpower, Namibia contributed a significant amount to the worlds’ diamond market. The vast capacity for solar and wind means Namibia can produce some of the world’s cheapest Green Hydrogen. Namibia’s economic landscape is changing significantly and one to watch out for!”
“The read provides a view of what different futures could be. Hydrogen is the main character but also allows other “characters” (nuclear, intermittent RE, batteries, etc. and realistically some remaining fossil fuels) to also have roles in future. Stealing some lines from the also Vernes inspired 2017 movie, Mysterious Island: “Most of us considered Verne’s work as nothing more than science fiction, but Vernes, he knew”
“In the past 20 years, the energy landscape has evolved at a fast pace and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down. With all the emerging countries and technology, the existing energy infrastructure must adapt to answer new more global problems. Chile’s unique geographic combination holds so much potential that is now being realized. Their goal of energy independence is going to bring around huge shifts in their infrastructure.”
“This adventure partially reflects what is expected for the Colombian hydrogen economy and how significant progress must occur to produce, use and export hydrogen in a cost-competitive way while keeping the 2050 carbon neutrality target within reach. Colombia’s abundance of natural resources, coupled with strategic investment for economic development, give the country the opportunity to become a regional leader in the hydrogen field. A challenging, yet exciting ambition to pursue.”
“2040, Romania – a Southeast European energy and decarbonization hub. We host a hydrogen valley, we produce and export green H2 to the EU, we bank on our talents and geography and we win. We win at life: we can stand tall and proud for having made such unbelievable progress in energy and we breathe, we worry less…hydrogen helped us get here!”
“In this partly fantastic (maybe a bit utopic) travel across the 8 times zone of wide Russia we discover how the hydrogen power has utterly changed what we once knew as a country mostly relying on natural resources. Now it’s one of the top world suppliers for technological expertise with a vast variety of scientific and educational centers. Let’s visit its prominent hydrogen hubs and see how they have developed despite all the climate, economical and other obstacles. May the Hydrogen Force be with you!”
“Liverpool, beer and hydrogen are at the centre of the story, as usual, as Tom journeys to Liverpool for a game on the hottest ever April day. Retirement beckons as politics and realism clash in this short nostalgic tale which ends with the reader dying to follow future Tom’s exploits travelling Europe with zero carbon emissions to his name”
“Inspiring, funny and sometimes skeptical about the future. This book combines the excitement and “rosy style” that comes when looking into the future with optimism and passion, the fear of failing to achieve the climate objectives and the mixed feelings of how best to ensure a just energy transition. It will make you laugh, reflect, learn.. And eventually, you will either love or hate hydrogen!”
“The book allows us to understand the gravity and complexity of the task in hand, with each country bringing its own opportunities, constraints, and positionality. Although the transition will be far from simple, requiring unprecedented efforts from governments, industry, and citizens, the tour shows the reader the truly exciting opportunities hydrogen offers for all nations. It is not just a fuel replacement, it is a paradigm shift in the way we look at energy systems, with co-benefits across a number of Sustainable Development Goals.”
“Almost 150 years after Jules Verne first envisaged a world powered by hydrogen, we can map out the changes it will enable within our lifetimes. Through the eyes of today’s energy leaders, we paint a picture of a transformed world powered by hydrogen alongside other energy transition vectors, and invite you to join us in building it.”
“Ziad Al Shammary has a plan. The 2040 climate as he arrives at the Red Sea resort is heating up, green technologies – a few familiar, a few surprising – have become mainstream. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the desire of people and nations for political power, wealth and security. Just like oil, hydrogen is no exception to those machinations – in its own way.”
“The future is uncertain, only the presence is real. Out of it arise unlimited possibilities. This book shows different visions of a hydrogen future. One day we will sit together and see how close we were…”
“In this book, you could imagine what a transition to net-zero emissions based on hydrogen would entail. It means changes in jobs, demand, cost, life style and capital spending and how we could protect our planet if we work into achieve our vision during the present decade. We invite you to join us to build this future!”
