The use of hydrogen as an energy carrier is being scaled up rapidly by many several countries in the Global North and beyond. ‘Green’ hydrogen (produced from renewable energy) can help decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as long-distance transportation and heavy industry. For this to happen, several challenges need to be overcome, such as reducing production costs, improving technology and building adequate infrastructure. The expansion of hydrogen value chains will have geopolitical implications, including the creation of new dependencies and, potentially, the intensification of technological competition between major powers.
How will energy systems be affected by the rise of the hydrogen economy? What will be its geopolitical consequences, for instance in terms of major power competition and North-South relations? What are the prospects for the international governance of hydrogen?
This webinar is the first in a series of ‘Spotlight’ events, looking at the fundamental transformations taking place in energy systems, and is part of the FIIA project The Global Politics of the Energy Transition.
PROGRAMME
Speakers:
Rainer Quitzow, Research Group Leader, Research Institute for Sustainability/Helmholtz Centre Potsdam
Rita Strohmaier, Researcher, German Institute of Development and Sustainability
Timo Behr, Non-Resident Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Chair:
Marco Siddi, Senior Research Fellow, FIIA