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Hydrogen storage tanks in Spain in May 2022. Hydrogen has a diverse range of applications and can be deployed in a wide range of industries.

Angel Garcia | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The buzz around hydrogen has gotten increasingly loud in the past few years — many see it as an important tool in reducing the environmental footprint of heavy industry and helping economies hit net-zero goals.

The green hydrogen sector, which is centered on producing it using renewable sources of energy like wind and solar, has drawn particular interest and boasts some high-profile backers.

They include German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who in 2022 called it “one of the most important technologies for a climate-neutral world” and “the key to decarbonizing our economies.”

In the world of business, multinationals from Iberdrola to Siemens Energy are also looking to make plays in green hydrogen.  

But while there’s a huge amount of excitement about the potential of hydrogen — the International Energy Agency describes it as a “versatile energy carrier” — there are also undoubted challenges.

For a start, the vast majority of hydrogen production is still based on fossil fuels, not renewables — a fact clearly at odds with net-zero goals.

And when it comes to green hydrogen specifically, production costs are a significant issue, and will need to be reduced in the years ahead.

Transporting hydrogen from production sites to users is another equally important factor to consider.

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“Hydrogen is pretty expensive to move,” Murray Douglas, head of hydrogen research at Wood Mackenzie, told CNBC during an interview.

“It’s more difficult to move than natural gas … technically, engineering wise … it’s just harder,” he added.

Douglas is not alone in highlighting some of the hurdles in delivering hydrogen.

The U.S. Department of Energy, for instance, notes key challenges “include reducing cost, increasing energy efficiency, maintaining hydrogen purity, and minimizing hydrogen leakage.”

The DOE adds that more research is required to “analyze the trade-offs between the hydrogen production options and the hydrogen delivery options when considered together as a system.”

Location important

In relation to the logistics surrounding green hydrogen in particular, one area that will need attention is the location of production facilities.  

Often, these are earmarked for areas where sources of renewable energy are abundant — such as Australia, North Africa and the Middle East — but many miles away from where the hydrogen will actually be used.

Wood Mackenzie’s Douglas referenced transportation options when reflecting on the investment horizon for the next 10 years.

“You can obviously pipe it, but you probably need a dedicated pipeline,” he said, noting that this would likely need to be a new build and close to end-users.

The only other realistic option in this investment horizon, he said, relates to exporting the hydrogen as ammonia.

“You produce the hydrogen, the green hydrogen, and then you would synthesize it into ammonia with nitrogen,” he said.

The shipping of ammonia was, Douglas noted, “a pretty established technology and industry — there’s already a bunch of receiving ports in place.”

This ammonia could then be sold directly to end users, such as fertilizer producers.

An alternative option would be to “crack the ammonia back into hydrogen,” although this would not be without its own issues.

“As soon as you start ‘cracking’ back into hydrogen use, you start to incur some … quite big energy losses,” Douglas said.   

Efficient delivery system needed

In a statement sent to CNBC, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, the CEO of industry association Hydrogen Europe, was bullish about the prospects for green hydrogen.

He said it would “become a global commodity,” before stressing the importance of having “an efficient delivery system.”

Chatzimarkakis also highlighted the need for a certification program, because “green hydrogen needs to prove that it is sourced from renewable energy.”

Despite some clearly big obstacles, partnerships and programs related to the supply and distribution of green hydrogen are starting to take shape.

Earlier this year, for example, Greenergy and Octopus Hydrogen — the latter is part of the Octopus Energy Group — announced they had started a “green hydrogen delivery partnership.”

Elsewhere, German firm Enertrag says it’s been “operating a tanker and transport trailer to deliver large quantities of green hydrogen to customers” since 2021.

And back in 2022, Madrid-headquartered energy firm Cepsa said it would work with the Port of Rotterdam to develop “the first green hydrogen corridor between southern and northern Europe.”

Sticking point

Though the technology and knowledge for hydrogen production and delivery are there, one sticking point remains.

“The industry knows how to transport hydrogen,” Wood Mackenzie’s Douglas said, adding that the energy and chemicals sectors have been transporting it for “a long time — it’s not new, it’s just expensive.”

Expanding on his point, Douglas said getting production costs down is key. The lower those are, the more manageable transportation costs would become.

“I’m not sure if there’s any sort of magical … cost reduction technology that’s going to come into the transportation side of the equation,” he added.

“We’re not suddenly going to find … a better material to ship hydrogen through,” he said.

“If you’re liquefying it, you have to get it very cold, and that’s just expensive,” he went on to add. “If you’re turning it into ammonia, there’s a cost in there, and then there’s a bunch of challenges around toxicity.”

“They know how to do all of these things,” he went on to conclude. “It still just comes down to cost.”

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Rivian (RIVN) plans to roll out hands-free driving this year, eyes-free system in 2026

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January 23, 2025

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Rivian (RIVN) plans to roll out hands-free driving this year, eyes-free system in 2026

Rivian-hands-free-driving

Rivian (RIVN) plans to launch a new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) this year to enable hands-free driving. The new feature is expected to be similar to Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (FSD). In 2026, Rivian will up the ante with an “eyes-free” system.

Rivian plans hands-free driving in 2025, eyes-free in 2026

At the new Rivian Space opening in San Francisco on Thursday, CEO RJ Scaringe revealed a few exciting developments to look forward to.

According to the folks at RivianForums, Scaringe said during the event that the company plans to launch a hands-free ADAS feature in 2025. Next year, Rivian will follow it up with an “eyes-free” system.

The big question is, will current Rivian R1S and R1T owners gain access? It could depend on whether you drive a Gen 1 or Gen 2 model. All Rivian models built through 2024 are considered Gen 1, while models 2025 and newer are Gen 2.

Rivian introduced the second-generation R1S and R1T last summer. They were “completely reengineered” with hundreds of hardware improvements, fully redesigned software, and more.

The upgrades include its new in-house autonomy system, Rivian Autonomy Platform. It’s powered by 11 cameras, five radars, and predictive AI.

Rivian-hands-free-driving
Rivian R1T (left) and R1S (right) electric vehicles (Source: Rivian)

Rivian said the new platform is “10 times more powerful” than the old system. It also features 360-degree visibility with 8X the number of camera pixels than the previous models. Gen 2 models already include features like Blind Spot Monitoring and Highway Assist.

With the premium version, drivers gain access to Lane Change, while Rivian said Enhanced Highway Assist and other features were coming soon.

Rivian-hands-free-driving
Rivian R2 electric SUV (Source: Rivian)

Although all Rivian R1S and R1T EVs include OTA updates, some features may require additional hardware or software not included on Gen 1 models.

Rivian hands-free and attention-free autonomous highway driving will be available on the upcoming R2 model. The smaller electric SUV is due out in the first half of 2026, starting at around $45,000.

Electrek’s Take

As a Tesla Model 3 driver, I can tell you that Full-Self Driving (FSD) is fun and can be helpful at times. I’ve used it on longer trips, like through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it makes driving or sitting in the car a little more enjoyable.

Although the system still requires you to pay attention, it enables the vehicle to drive itself almost anywhere with “minimal driver intervention.”

The new Actually Smart Summon feature is one of my favorites. Through the Tesla app, you can summon your vehicle to come to you in a parking lot. The vehicle will then move around other cars, people, and objects to find you.

Other functions, like Navigate on Autopilot, will take over while the vehicle is on the highway, changing lanes (with turn signals) and braking or accelerating as needed.

For Rivian owners, it would be like an upgraded system from Highway and Lane Change Assist. The “eyes-free” system coming next year will likely have a few regulatory hurdles to pass before it rolls out, so it should be interesting to see what that will consist of. Check back for more info soon. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.

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The world’s largest solar + storage project will deliver power 24/7

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January 23, 2025

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The world's largest solar + storage project will deliver power 24/7

world's largest solar storage
Photo: Masdar

The United Arab Emirates is building the world’s largest solar and battery storage project that will dispatch clean energy 24/7.

Emirati Renewable energy company Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) are developing the trailblazing solar and battery storage project. Once it’s online, will become the largest combined solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) in the world.

Located in Abu Dhabi, the project will feature a 5.2 GW solar PV plant coupled with a 19 gigawatt-hour (GWh) BESS.

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, minister of industry and advanced technology and chairman of Masdar, said:

For decades, the biggest barrier facing renewable energy has been intermittency – to be able to source uninterrupted clean power day and night.

In collaboration with EWEC and our partners, we will develop a renewable energy facility capable of providing clean energy round the clock.

For the first time ever, this will transform renewable energy into a world-leading 1 GW of reliable baseload energy every day on an unprecedented scale – a first step that could become a giant leap for the world.

Masdar announced China’s JA Solar and Jinko Solar, two of the world’s largest solar panel suppliers, and Chinese battery and BESS giant CATL as preferred suppliers. JA Solar and Jinko Solar will supply 2.6 GW of solar panels each. India’s Larsen & Toubro and POWERCHINA have been selected as preferred engineering, procurement, and construction contractors.

Masdar says the project will create 10,000 jobs and doesn’t yet indicate a projected completion date.

Read more: China installed a record capacity of solar and wind in 2024 – in numbers

To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*

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Trump signs executive order promoting crypto, paving way for digital asset stockpile

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January 23, 2025

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Trump signs executive order promoting crypto, paving way for digital asset stockpile

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order on cryptocurrencies in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Jan. 23, 2025.

Kevin Lamarque | Reuters

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to promote the advancement of cryptocurrencies in the U.S. and to work toward potentially developing a national digital asset stockpile.

Venture capitalist David Sacks, who Trump tapped as his crypto and artificial intelligence czar, joined Trump in the Oval Office for the signing of the order.

“The digital asset industry plays a crucial role in innovation and economic development in the United States, as well as our Nation’s international leadership,” the order states.

Trump, who was a crypto critic in his first administration, changed his tune on the campaign trail and attracted hefty contributions from the industry after a tumultuous four years under then-President Joe Biden. Crypto investors, companies and executives accounted for almost half of corporate donations in the 2024 election cycle, with some contributing tens of millions of dollars to help Trump win a second term in office.

Most of the order focuses on establishing technology and rules around crypto and its development in the U.S. One of the critical pieces is the creation of a working group to consider a national digital asset stockpile, “potentially derived from cryptocurrencies lawfully seized by the Federal Government through its law enforcement effort.”

Historically, the U.S. Marshals Service has auctioned off seized bitcoin, along with other cryptocurrencies such as ether and litecoin. Trump promised on the campaign trail that if he returned to the White House, he would ensure the federal government never sells off its bitcoin holdings, though Thursday’s order does not mention bitcoin.

“If I am elected, it will be the policy of my administration, United States of America, to keep 100% of all the bitcoin the U.S. government currently holds or acquires into the future,” he said in July in a keynote at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

The order goes on to outline other key priorities for the digital asset industry, including protecting individuals and private sector companies that use blockchain networks from “persecution.” The document spells out certain protections for developers and miners, noting that they should be able to freely “develop and deploy software” as well as “participate in mining and validating,” a nod to the technicians securing the bitcoin network.

The president has also pledged to defend the rights of those who choose to self-custody their digital assets. That means they do not rely on a centralized entity such as Coinbase to hold their tokens and instead use personal crypto wallets, which are sometimes outside the reach of the Internal Revenue Service. 

The order emphasizes promoting the sovereignty of the U.S. dollar by supporting the growth of legitimate, dollar-backed stablecoins globally.

Bitcoin surges past $100,000 as Trump reportedly plans to unveil new crypto policies

Since his victory in November, Trump has focused on appointing government leaders who support the cryptocurrency sector.

Paul Atkins has been nominated to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atkins, a former SEC commissioner, is known for advocating market-friendly policies and opposing heavy-handed regulation. If confirmed, he will succeed Gary Gensler, whose aggressive enforcement of crypto regulations made him a divisive figure in the industry.

Earlier this week, the SEC announced the formation of a new “crypto task force,” to be led by Commissioner Hester Peirce. Dubbed “Crypto Mom” for her outspoken support of digital currencies, Peirce has long championed a regulatory framework that fosters innovation rather than hindering it.

Scott Bessent, a pro-crypto hedge fund manager, is Trump’s pick to lead the Treasury Department. Bessent attended the Crypto Ball on Friday in Washington, an event that brought together lawmakers, cabinet appointees and industry leaders and underscored the administration’s plan to make the U.S. a global leader in digital asset innovation.

Sacks told the crowd at the packed Mellon Auditorium on Friday night that “the war on crypto is over.”

“This is just the beginning of America reclaiming its position as the world’s innovation leader,” Sacks said.

Don’t miss these cryptocurrency insights from CNBC Pro:

Trump's latest round of executive orders; crypto work group and national digital asset stockpile

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