Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Decarbonization via Heterogenous Catalytic CO2 Hydrogenation

Clean energy alternatives are essential for mitigating the effects of climate change and global warming. Renewable hydrogen (H₂) is a promising substitute for fossil fuels, offering zero CO₂ emissions. However, its low volumetric energy density poses a significant challenge for efficient storage and transportation. The strategic integration of H₂ storage with decarbonization initiatives has emerged as a viable solution to combat global warming. This review explores the potential sources of renewable H₂ production, storage methods, and applications in the context of decarbonization. Among various approaches, renewable liquid production via catalytic CO₂ hydrogenation—specifically through the reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) reaction, Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS), and methanol synthesis—stands out as one of the most promising pathways. These processes facilitate the storage and transport of renewable H₂ while enabling large-scale industrial applications. The conversion of CO₂ and renewable H₂ into methanol and hydrocarbons not only enhances energy storage efficiency, but also offers significant environmental benefits, contributing to the development of sustainable energy systems. Additionally, this review addresses current technological and economic challenges associated with renewable H₂ and its storage while proposing future research directions. By providing insights into technological feasibility, practical applications, and research perspectives, this review aims to support advancements in decarbonization efforts through renewable hydrogen.