Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-12-05 00:13Core Insights - The clean hydrogen industry is highly dependent on policy and downstream demand, leading to significant uncertainty in its commercial viability [2][5][6] Group 1: Project Developments - BP has officially withdrawn its H2Teesside blue hydrogen project application, which aimed to produce 160,000 tons of low-carbon hydrogen annually, due to a significant decline in local hydrogen demand and a shift in site usage for an AI data center [2][3] - Exxon Mobil has also paused its blue hydrogen plant project in Baytown, Texas, which had already seen an investment of $500 million, citing high costs and a lack of long-term purchase agreements from potential customers as key reasons for the decision [4] Group 2: Market Dynamics - The clean hydrogen sector faces challenges such as high production costs and an underdeveloped commercial model, with many projects relying on subsidies for feasibility [5][8] - The cost structure of blue hydrogen is heavily influenced by natural gas prices and the investment required for carbon capture and storage (CCS), making it significantly more expensive than gray hydrogen [8] Group 3: Policy Environment - Recent adjustments in the policy environment in both the U.S. and the U.K. have negatively impacted the momentum of low-carbon hydrogen projects, with reduced support for clean hydrogen initiatives and stricter regulations on methane emissions [6][7] - The U.S. previously had strong support for clean hydrogen through various tax incentives, but this support has weakened, leading to increased uncertainty for blue hydrogen projects [6][7] Group 4: Industry Demand - The demand for clean hydrogen is primarily driven by decarbonization needs in industries such as metallurgy and chemicals, but the overall economic environment has led to reduced enthusiasm for high-cost low-carbon products [8][9] - The global hydrogen demand is projected to reach nearly 100 million tons by 2024, mainly in traditional sectors like refining and chemicals, where the transition to low-carbon hydrogen is hindered by cost considerations [9]