Hydrogen: Let’s Break the Myths and Let the Facts Speak
In mid-April 2025, France unveiled an updated version of its National Hydrogen Strategy.
A strong signal: the energy transition is gaining momentum, with hydrogen now playing a central and structuring role. Countries such as Germany, the United States, and South Korea have already moved ahead. Today, the hydrogen vision is clear, the regulatory framework is taking shape, and significant resources are being mobilised to support the industrialisation of the sector—both in France and across Europe.
These strategies are far from symbolic. Hydrogen is emerging as a strategic lever to decarbonise the economy, strengthen energy and industrial sovereignty, and boost European technological leadership. Yet despite this, public debate continues to be clouded by persistent misconceptions.
Here are five major myths—debunked by facts, with evidence from the field to back them up.
Myth #1: "Decarbonisation is not happening any time soon"
FALSE. The time is now — and the urgency is real.
The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report is unequivocal: to have any hope of limiting global warming to +1.5°C, we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 43% by 2030. Delaying action means falling irreversibly behind on climate targets.
One of the largest-emitting sectors is transport, responsible for 30% of CO₂ emissions in Europe and nearly 24% globally. Decarbonising mobility is therefore not a choice—it is an imperative.
Transport decarbonisation relies on three key pillars:
- Demand reduction: rethinking mobility habits and cutting unnecessary travel,
- Renewable energy: powering new drivetrains with low-carbon energy sources,
- Technological transition: in mobility, this includes electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles—whether newly manufactured or retrofitted (i.e. converting existing combustion vehicles to low-emission drivetrains).
Achieving this technological shift requires:
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Supporting fleet operators in their transition to low-emission mobility, through access to reliable vehicles, infrastructure and services,
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Industrialising the entire hydrogen vehicle value chain, both for new production and retrofitting existing fleets,
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Deploying hydrogen refuelling infrastructure along major road corridors and urban hubs, designed for the rapid refuelling of all types of hydrogen vehicles.
Several projects are already operational:
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In Givrand (France), two hydrogen-powered refuse collection trucks are in service, refuelled at a station manufactured by Atawey,
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In Groningen (Netherlands), 20 hydrogen buses are in operation, refuelled at a dedicated station,
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In Germany, retailer EDEKA is trialling hydrogen trucks for food logistics.
In summary: The decarbonisation of transport is urgent—and hydrogen is already part of the solution.
Myth #2: "The decarbonisation of mobility will rely solely on batteries"
FALSE. Hydrogen complements batteries—it does not compete with them.
The technological transition must not be driven by dogma. Efficiency must take precedence over simplicity. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but rather energy vectors adapted to specific use cases:
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Battery electric vehicles are ideally suited to daily journeys made by private individuals.
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Hydrogen, however, is essential for:
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Services requiring rapid refuelling and continuous operation,
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Intensive and professional mobility,
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Heavy-duty vehicles with high autonomy requirements.
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It is therefore necessary to develop vehicle platforms tailored to targeted fleet applications: taxis, buses and coaches, light commercial vehicles, and long-haul transport.
The objective: complementarity of energy solutions, not competition.
Some concrete examples of use cases:
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In Paris, Hysetco operates 1,000 hydrogen taxis offering 500 km of range and 5-minute refuelling—ideal for high-intensity use.
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In Clermont-Ferrand, 14 hydrogen buses operate on an urban line supported by the SMTC-AC transport authority.
In summary: achieving clean mobility for all requires solutions adapted to real-world use and operational constraints.
Myth #3: "Hydrogen doesn’t contribute to decarbonisation because it is fossil-based"
FALSE. Partly true today — but not tomorrow.
The key lies in the method of production. Carbon-intensive hydrogen, produced from natural gas or coal, is on the decline. The future belongs to green and low-carbon hydrogen, generated locally from renewable energy sources or low-carbon electricity.
Building more resilient territories requires clean, local, and decarbonised energy. Reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels is essential to achieve energy autonomy.
In this context, ecosystem-based projects—integrating production, distribution, and end-use—are emerging:
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In Vougy (France), the Arv’Hy project combines renewable hydrogen production, a refuelling station, and both local and cross-border applications.
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In Italy, an electrolyser supplies hydrogen to a refuelling station as well as to the local gas grid.
In summary: The real transition means producing differently, not just consuming differently.
Myth #4: "Hydrogen is a waste of money"
FALSE. It is a strategic investment.
Hydrogen is not merely a technological issue—it is a cornerstone of industrial sovereignty. Reducing dependence on gas and oil also means reinforcing the local economic fabric and creating local value.
Thanks to its industrial sovereignty, Europe—and France in particular—can rely on a fully integrated hydrogen value chain: electrolysers, refuelling stations, retrofitting, logistics, and associated services. From design to operation, each link in the chain can be developed and operated locally.
For example:
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In Spain, the Catalunya H₂ Valley project is building an integrated hydrogen economy, spanning mobility, industry, and storage.
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In Germany, the H₂Global mechanism secures long-term demand, accelerating investment and market stability.
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In France:
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100,000 jobs are expected to be created by 2035,
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By that time, the hydrogen sector could represent €85 billion in cumulative GDP, according to France Hydrogène.
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In summary: Funding hydrogen is not a cost—it is an investment in territorial resilience and industrial revival.
Myth #5: "Hydrogen is too expensive"
FALSE. The real issue is the lack of scale.
All industrial innovations start off expensive. Hydrogen is no exception. However, its costs are already falling—and will continue to do so, provided the demand is structured and the sector is scaled up through industrialisation.
How can costs be reduced?
- By producing more hydrogen locally from renewable energy sources,
- By pooling uses (mobility and industry),
- By supporting industrial investment (electrolysers, refuelling stations, engines, new and retrofitted vehicles),
- By providing long-term demand visibility (through public procurement and calls for projects).
A strategy that works:
- The cost of producing green hydrogen has significantly decreased in recent years, driven by falling renewable electricity prices and technological advances in electrolysers (a 60% drop from 2010 to 2020),
- Business models based on captive fleets and heavy transport are nearing profitability,
As part of the hydrogen sector’s development, several European initiatives have emerged to consolidate vehicle and infrastructure procurement across countries or regions. The goal:Create economies of scale,
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Reduce the unit cost for each stakeholder,
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Standardise technical solutions,
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Accelerate the industrialisation of the hydrogen value chain.
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In summary: The real challenge is not the short-term price of hydrogen—it is the lack of urgency in making it an affordable solution at scale.
In conclusion, hydrogen is already being deployed—across regions, fleets, and infrastructure. It is a key technology, a long-term solution, and a strategic choice.
It is time to:
- Move beyond misconceptions,
- Act with clarity and realism,
- Make hydrogen a collective tool to achieve the energy transition.