Limited scientific evidence for decarbonization of energy end-uses and the challenges to learning and empowerment of green hydrogen niches - insights from Canada

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dc.contributor.authorAguilar, F. Ignacio
dc.contributor.authorHoicka, Christina E.
dc.contributor.authorSeifitokaldani, Ali
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-19T21:35:12Z
dc.date.available2026-05-19T21:35:12Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractSupporting inappropriate uses for hydrogen can delay climate action and decarbonization efforts should limit hydrogen to difficult-to-electrify end-uses. The introduction of novel green hydrogen niches to markets requires learning about which end-uses are appropriate for hydrogen and the empowerment of these niches. This work identifies and collates scientific evidence of when to use hydrogen over electrification of end-uses. The hydrogen end-uses being empowered by legitimization through discourse and resource mobilization are assessed in investment advice, 11 government plans, and 47 policies in Canada. The findings confirm the inattention to when to electrify and when to use hydrogen, observed in the very limited scientific evidence of only two approaches to prioritization, the lack of harmonization between the approaches, and the lack of legitimization of this information. Although some hydrogen end-uses being empowered align with scientific evidence, the most appropriate set of hydrogen end-uses that could contribute to decarbonization are not being legitimized and empowered in Canada. More attention should be paid and resources allocated to developing and legitimizing robust and scientifically based evidence of when to electrify and when to use hydrogen for energy end-uses. This novel method is globally applicable to other emerging technologies and policy analysis.
dc.description.reviewstatusReviewed
dc.description.scholarlevelFaculty
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research is made possible by funding from NSERC Alliance (Grant #ALLRP 577240), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Grant #890-2022-0076), the Government of Canada through the Environmental Damages Fund (Grant #EDF-CA-2022g009), and the Canada Research Chair Secretariat CRC-2020-00055.
dc.identifier.citationAguilar, F. I., Hoicka, C. E., & Seifitokaldani, A. (2025). Limited scientific evidence for decarbonization of energy end-uses and the challenges to learning and empowerment of green hydrogen niches - insights from Canada. Energy Policy, 206, 114763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114763
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114763
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/23900
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherEnergy Policy
dc.rightsCC BY
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectgreen hydrogen
dc.subjectinnovation niches
dc.subjectlearning
dc.subjectlegitimacy
dc.subjectprotected space
dc.subjecthydrogen prioritization
dc.subject.departmentDepartment of Geography
dc.subject.departmentDepartment of Civil Engineering
dc.titleLimited scientific evidence for decarbonization of energy end-uses and the challenges to learning and empowerment of green hydrogen niches - insights from Canada
dc.typeArticle

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