What merit order for hydrogen development? Prospective observations from the French context

This article is devoted to an analysis of the prospects for the development of hydrogen uses, from a decarbonisation perspective. Based on a comparison of low-carbon hydrogen production technologies (from renewables, nuclear, CCS) and their prospective costs, a «merit order» in the uses is determined, leading to prioritise substitution in heavy industry first, then in heavy transport. We also draw attention to the safety of hydrogen uses, whose explosiveness calls for the greatest vigilance, at the risk, otherwise, of hindering the deployment of hydrogen uses