Electricity- and hydrogen-driven energy system sector-coupling in net-zero CO2 emission pathways (van der Zwaan et al., 2025)

With a set of such models, under jointly adopted deep decarbonisation scenario assumptions, the authors here show that the ensuing direct penetration of electricity and H2 in final energy consumption may rise to average shares of around 60% and 6%, respectively, by 2050. They demonstrate that electrification proves the most cost-efficient decarbonisation route in all economic sectors, while the direct use of H2 in final energy consumption provides a relatively small, though essential, contribution to deep decarbonisation. The study concludes that the variance observed across results from different models reflects the uncertainties that abound in the shape of deep decarbonisation pathways, in particular with regard to the role of H2. Read report