Development of innovative business and international hydrogen trade: institutional support for the energy transition to a sustainable post-carbon future
Authors:   Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, Yatsenko Olha 
Published: February 2025

The global energy transition is characterized by a shift from fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. It is emphasized that hydrogen energy has significant potential for the development of innovative business, international trade, and energy transition for a sustainable post-carbon future. Currently, most hydrogen is consumed locally, without significant volumes of interstate supplies. It is noted that the development of this market faces many technical challenges, including high costs of producing “green” hydrogen, technical difficulties with the infrastructure for its transportation and storage due to low density, and the need to create large-scale infrastructure. Demand for hydrogen is growing as it plays a key role in decarbonization and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, especially in heavy industry, transportation, and energy systems. In the short term, hydrogen trade will likely occur mainly between neighboring countries through pipelines, limiting the scope of international trade until cost-reducing technologies are developed. In the long term, as demand for green hydrogen grows, especially in Europe and Asia, the trend toward active trade in this resource will gradually change. According to the most optimistic forecasts, the global hydrogen market will gradually grow until 2030, and the volume of international hydrogen trade may reach 120 million tons per year. It has been theorized that hydrogen is becoming increasingly important in the global energy system, and the geopolitics of energy trade will inevitably change. Energy geopolitics has traditionally been dominated by fossil fuel exporters such as the Middle East and Russia. However, the transition to hydrogen has the potential to decentralize energy production, making countries with rich renewable energy resources, such as the Persian Gulf, North Africa, and parts of Europe, key players in the new hydrogen market. This underscores the importance of developing international hydrogen supply chains, particularly from regions rich in renewable energy sources, such as North Africa, the Middle East, and Australia. Institutional support for the energy transition for a sustainable post-carbon future is implemented at the global and macro levels. At the global level, through a system of rules and regulations for the international market, international trade agreements and customs regulation, and international coordination on the implementation of hydrogen quality and safety standards. At the macro level, through government institutions, regulatory frameworks, and hydrogen economy development strategies, which have already become an integral part of the energy plans of many countries seeking to achieve carbon neutrality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve energy security. It is substantiated that the hydrogen market will face a difficult path related to solving technical and economic issues. However, thanks to the development of innovative business and technological innovations, support from governments, private investors, and various stakeholder groups, this sector has a great chance to become a key player in the future energy landscape, playing an important role in the decarbonization of the global economy.

Keywords: innovative business, institutional support, energy transition, hydrogen, global hydrogen economy, energy geopolitics, decarbonization, sustainable development, sustainable post-carbon future, green transition, green investments, technological innovation, international trade, emissions trading system, regulation, strategic interests, economic interests, strategy of hydrogen use for energy, energy strategy, strategizing the hydrogen economy, country strategies, global development triggers, trade policy, environmental policy, international trade agreements, customs regulation, international trade.