Reconfiguring European industry for net-zero: a qualitative review of hydrogen and carbon capture utilization and storage benefits and implementation challenges

Based on a rich corpus of original mixed-methods research, this paper explores the benefits, barriers, and justice impacts of industrial decarbonization via hydrogen and carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) via European industrial firms located in UK clusters. It asks: (1) what are the technology dynamics and drivers of both hydrogen and CCUS in a real-world deployment context, including the state of deployment plans? (2) what are the possible benefits of CCUS and hydrogen deployment? (3) What are the most significant barriers and challenges facing CCUS and hydrogen implementation? (4) Who stands to “win” the most from deployment, who stands to “lose,” what possible inequitable community impacts could emerge, and what impact will deployment have on vulnerable groups? We offer answers to these four questions based on extensive semi-structured research interviews (N = 111) triangulated with site visits to industrial clusters (N = 52) as well as an extensive secondary review of the academic literature. We conclude with clear policy insights that are now prevalent across UK and European industrial clusters as well as emerging and context-specific recommendations concerning the adoption of hydrogen and CCUS to achieve net-zero industry globally.