U.S. Hydrogen Demand Assessment
This summary report aims to contextualize hydrogen’s current role in the U.S. industrial economy, particularly within petroleum refining and chemical manufacturing industries, to demonstrate where clean hydrogen deployment can deliver the greatest decarbonization gains in the near term.
Leveraging the most recent available production and facility data from 2023 and 2024, this report estimates that the U.S. currently produces and consumes about 14 million metric tons (MMT) of hydrogen annually, primarily in existing heavy industries.
Over 90% of U.S. hydrogen demand is concentrated in petroleum refining, ammonia, and methanol production, with refining alone accounting for more than half of the total consumption.
These sectors represent ready-made demand centers and immediate-term decarbonization opportunities for clean hydrogen deployment, especially given existing infrastructure and technical familiarity with hydrogen. This report aims to map these legacy demand centers and take a forward-looking view of emerging and potentially promising applications, such as heavy-duty transport, aviation, and maritime shipping, that are poised to drive future hydrogen demand growth.
Understanding where hydrogen is used today, how much is needed, and where future demand might arise will be essential to guide both federal- and state-level hydrogen strategies. This short report aims to offer a foundation to inform the development of a targeted clean hydrogen industry in the U.S.
