Multilateral governance in a global hydrogen economy: An overview of main actors and institutions, key challenges and future pathways

Abstract

This paper explores the current scope and direction of the emerging global governance of hydrogen within the broader context of the energy transition, where technological innovation and institutional change intersect. Hydrogen, as a critical yet complex energy vector, requires coordinated governance efforts to navigate its development effectively. To this end, we critically engage with key challenges facing the hydrogen sector and examine how institutional frameworks are addressing these issues. Departing from the broader scholarship on global energy governance, we conceptually leverage the socio-technical transition and innovation system literature to understand the complexities underpinning the development of the global hydrogen economy. We identify three overarching issue areas pertaining to the nature and role of hydrogen in the global energy system: end-use sector development, infrastructure and trade, and environmental and socio-economic sustainability. Each of these areas presents distinct challenges to hydrogen's global governance, from stimulating supply and demand to managing geo-economic challenges and establishing comprehensive certification and standards. Through mapping multilateral institutions at the global and regional levels and their main objectives, we offer insights into the emerging institutional architecture related to hydrogen and identify potential gaps in current governance. Our findings suggest that while newer, hydrogen-specific institutions complement the broader agenda of the main established international organizations, the overall global hydrogen structure remains a patchwork of diverse actors and frameworks, each addressing hydrogen-related challenges to varying degrees. Our research contributes to a nuanced understanding of global governance in the hydrogen sector and advances scholarly discussions on how institutional and actor dynamics shape the emergence and development of new technologies.