Global Hydrogen Review 2026: hydrogen moves from ambition to action

The International Energy Agency’s Global Hydrogen Review 2026 highlights hydrogen’s growing role in strengthening energy security, supply chain resilience and industrial decarbonisation. While low-emissions hydrogen projects continue to expand worldwide, deployment remains slower than expected due to high costs, infrastructure gaps and limited demand.  
The IEA review gives an update of developments in about 40 countries (incl BE and NL) all over the world, with data on announced and operational projects for the production of low-emissions hydrogen and for the development of hydrogen infrastructure. It also includes information on signed offtake agreements for low-emissions hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives, and details on more than 1,000 hydrogen policies worldwide that have been announced or implemented since 2020. 
The 2026 edition also explores the price premium that end-users are willing to pay for low-emissions hydrogen and hydrogen-based products. A special chapter explores Africa’s vast renewable energy potential and its emerging role in global hydrogen value chains. The report stresses that creating reliable demand through supportive policies, certification schemes and incentives will be key to accelerating market growth.  
For Belgium, the report reinforces the importance of building both hydrogen infrastructure and end-user demand. With the Port of Antwerp-Bruges emerging as a major European hydrogen gateway and Hydrogen Valley initiatives gaining momentum, Belgium is well positioned to play a leading role in Europe’s hydrogen economy. 

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