Cutting-Edge Hydrogen Solutions Across Industries

Explore how hydrogen supports decarbonization across heavy industry, utilities, mobility and more.

With the world’s focus turning toward finding cleaner, more sustainable power sources, hydrogen energy is our future. And Linde is leading the way.

With Linde’s decades of experience working across the entire hydrogen value chain, we serve as a dedicated partner to help your plants and processes work more sustainably, more efficiently and more profitably. From hydrogen as a fuel for mobility, heat and power to its use in energy storage, Linde can help you make hydrogen a key component in your decarbonization plans.

We KNOW the power of hydrogen.

Although use of hydrogen as a fuel source has been a topic of discussion for a very long time, the climate crisis the world now faces is driving discussion into action. From governments to shareholders to everyday people, the call for companies and industries to start the transition to cleaner energy usage, dramatically decreased emissions and implementation of zero-carbon technologies is growing louder by the day. So, in saying that, what role will hydrogen play in those carbon management journeys?

The Roles of Hydrogen

Hydrogen plays a key role in decarbonization and energy transition due to its versatility across sectors. As a low- or zero-carbon energy carrier, it supports industrial processes, enhances flexibility in power systems and helps replace higher-emission fuels. These characteristics make hydrogen a practical foundation for engineering solutions across heavy industry, utilities, mobility and beyond.

Hydrogen in Heavy Industry

Fossil fuels remain widespread in heavy industries, but tightening regulation and stakeholder expectations are making that increasingly unsustainable. As hydrogen deployment grows, cost-effective technologies are emerging that lower implementation barriers. In sectors from steel to cement, hydrogen is being recognized both as an energy source and feedstock that helps decarbonize processes and sustain operations. In the United States, most hydrogen use today supports refining, metal treatment, fertilizer production and food processing. As a sustainable power and feedstock option, hydrogen can help these industries maintain productivity while reducing emissions.

Hydrogen in Utilities and Power Generation

Historically, carbon-emitting sources have dominated power generation, but the climate imperative demands cleaner alternatives. Hydrogen, as a simple and abundant element, offers a GHG-free option to replace natural gas-fired processes. It can support power systems through hydrogen-powered turbines, fuel cells and grid blending, contributing to heating homes, businesses and community supply. When paired with renewables such as wind or solar for green hydrogen or blended with natural gas in turbines, hydrogen use helps reduce the electric grid’s carbon footprint.

Hydrogen in Mobility

Hydrogen has long been used across transport modes — from passenger and freight vehicles to ships and aerospace — and plays a growing role in decarbonizing the transportation sector and broader energy transition. Today, hydrogen fuels both internal combustion engines and fuel cells, and expanding gaseous and liquified hydrogen infrastructure brings it closer to everyday use. Vehicles powered by hydrogen from natural gas can emit significantly fewer CO₂ emissions than diesel engines; with blue or green hydrogen, this reduction can be greater. As hydrogen fueling infrastructure expands, it offers a low-carbon alternative for mobility. Through Hydrogen FuelTech technologies and a global network of fueling stations, Linde supports efficient deployment of hydrogen-powered mobility solutions.

We CREATE greener solutions for your existing operations.

Hydrogen offers compelling benefits. Whether you utilize it as a low- or zero-emissions source of energy or as a feedstock gas for a vast array of industries and applications, the demand for hydrogen is growing as we move to a truly sustainable future. What’s more, hydrogen supports a gradual transition towards lower-carbon sources of energy. It can be generated from natural gas and non-renewable by-products or from renewables.

Understanding the "colors" of hydrogen.

When working with hydrogen, you must first understand its production sources. To start, steam reforming is the main method used to produce hydrogen on an industrial scale today. In an initial step, feedstocks such as natural gas, LPG or naphtha are combined with steam with the aid of a catalyst to produce synthesis gas. This mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen is then further processed.

Hydrogen production and usage can be categorized in three primary ways:

Gray hydrogen

Since fossil fuels are used in this production method, the end product is called gray hydrogen. Gray hydrogen can also be produced through the partial oxidation of refinery residues. This residue material is heated to a very high temperature with oxygen and steam to produce a raw synthesis gas.

Blue hydrogen

If the carbon dioxide (CO2) contained in the synthesis gas is removed in a downstream carbon capture process, the resulting hydrogen is called blue.

Green hydrogen

Green hydrogen is obtained either by steam reforming, if bio-based feedstock is available, or by splitting water by electrolysis. The electricity needed for this process is generated exclusively from renewable sources.

Through our ITM Linde Electrolysis (ILE) joint venture, we are one of the world’s leading suppliers of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer technologies, which means that our customers can rely on Linde for end-to-end, integrated green H2 solutions.

We IMPLEMENT the right processing technologies.

Hydrogen offers compelling benefits as a low- or zero-emission energy carrier and industrial feedstock. It supports the transition to lower-carbon energy sources and can be produced from natural gas or renewables. Understanding hydrogen production pathways is essential. Steam reforming combines natural gas, LPG or naphtha with steam and a catalyst to produce synthesis gas containing hydrogen. Production methods define hydrogen types: gray hydrogen uses fossil fuels; blue hydrogen incorporates carbon capture; green hydrogen is generated from renewable electricity via electrolysis. Through the ITM Linde Electrolysis (ILE) joint venture, we supply proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer technologies for integrated green hydrogen solutions.

We MAKE SENSE of the entire hydrogen value chain.

With our end-to-end experience and expertise, Linde can efficiently and effectively put the entire hydrogen value chain to work for you. From production to processing to distribution and storage, we can customize a plan to increase profitability, build efficiency and lower your carbon footprint. We can even help you pilot applications before their full scale up and implementation.

Production

We produce hydrogen (H₂) from a range of feedstocks and natural resources. Using processes like steam reforming, we generate H₂ from natural gas, LPG or naphtha (gray hydrogen). We are also able to offer what is known as blue hydrogen thanks to our carbon capture and storage technologies. In addition, our technologies enable H₂ to be generated from renewable energy sources (green hydrogen). We align the feedstock, production capacity, purity and availability levels with our customers’ needs.

Processing

Depending on the target application, the hydrogen we produce will require further processing. Typical steps include the removal of impurities, the separation of carbon dioxide (CO₂), compression and/or cryogenic liquefaction. With a broad portfolio of process and engineering technologies, we can find the optimum solution for our customers’ requirements.

Distribution and Storage

Once the hydrogen has been processed, it needs to be transported to the point of use. We have both the technologies and equipment to efficiently transport both gaseous and liquid hydrogen to its destination or to store it until needed. Building on our long-standing expertise in this area, we work closely with our customers to find the perfect fit for every storage and distribution challenge.

Some of the industries WE WORK WITH include:

Refining

Used primarily to remove impurities from crude oil and upgrade heavier crude, refining accounts for around 52% of all hydrogen usage.

Power Generation

From hydrogen-fired gas turbines to a long-term storage solution to support demand, hydrogen is a significant low-carbon solution, especially when combined with renewables for production, for power generation and flexibility in electrical systems.

Chemicals

Hydrogen is central to chemical processes, such as the production of ammonia and methanol production.

Transportation

For commercial and personal transportation like ships, buses, aerospace, trucks and cars, hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles and combustion engines help reduce emissions while increasing efficiency.

Steel

In some steel production, hydrogen is used in the reduction of iron. By using green hydrogen instead of coke derived from coal, we can move closer to producing zero-carbon steel.

Buildings

Hydrogen can be blended into existing multifamily and commercial buildings’ existing natural gas networks for fossil fuel displacement and lower emissions.

Our World and the Future of Hydrogen

The effects of climate change – global warming plus the corresponding shifts in climate patterns – are increasingly visible on the environment, society, and the global economy. Climate change is not a distant threat – it is happening now. Due to its versatility, hydrogen is proving to be a key enabler of the transition to low and zero-carbon energy. Linde has the technologies, expertise and reach to help unlock the massive potential of hydrogen.

The Future of Mobility with Hydrogen

Hydrogen - a key to sustainable mobility. As a fuel, it can safely provide value equivalent to fossil fuels with higher energy density, less energy consumption and zero CO2 emissions. Linde has been shaping hydrogen mobility from the very beginning.

Hydrogen: Powering Our Future

As the world becomes more industrialized and digitized, demand for power generation continues to grow. How can we meet demand while reducing the impact of associated CO2 emissions? Find out how hydrogen can be used as an energy carrier while helping to decarbonize power generation.

Hydrogen and the Future of Heavy Industry

The chemical supply chain touches nearly everything we purchase or consume. How can we ensure that it has a lower carbon footprint? Hydrogen can be one of the paths to more sustainable production, both as an energy carrier and a feedstock.

Get our guide to help you navigate your navigate your path to cleaner energy and processes!

Learn how you can make hydrogen a key part of your decarbonization plans. We have put together a comprehensive guide that contains both necessary context and solutions – everything you need to help forge an effective path toward your clean energy goals.