Synopsis
Hydrogen Energy in a Sustainable Future: Phantom or Panacea?, co-authored by chemical engineer Mark Glucina and ecological economist Kozo Mayumi, is a rigorous, sober examination of hydrogen's realistic role in the global transition to net-zero carbon emissions. Published in early 2026, the book sets out to cut through the intense political, commercial, and media hype surrounding the "hydrogen gold rush". Rather than presenting hydrogen as a universal silver bullet for climate change, the authors apply thermodynamic laws and strict economic analysis to distinguish between high-value applications and expensive, impractical distractions.
The first part of the book demystifies the physical properties, history, and production methods of the element, including a critical look at the "hydrogen color wheel" (such as green, blue, and pink hydrogen). Glucina and Mayumi break down the complex realities of generating hydrogen from fossil fuels with carbon capture versus using water electrolysis driven by renewable energy. They place strong emphasis on the persistent, fundamental hurdles of the hydrogen economy: its massive volume requirements, high storage and transport costs, and the heavy energy losses inherent in converting and moving it over long distances.
The core of the book evaluates hydrogen’s viability sector by sector, assessing its potential across heavy industry, home heating, power generation, and various modes of transportation. The authors argue that while hydrogen is a vital, irreplaceable tool for decarbonizing "hard-to-abate" industrial sectors—such as steelmaking, chemical manufacturing, and shipping—it is largely inefficient and economically non-viable for applications like domestic heating or passenger vehicles, where direct electrification is vastly superior.
Concluding with a global outlook on policy, market strategies, and the geopolitical dynamics between emerging hydrogen buyers and sellers, the book offers a grounded timeline for infrastructure deployment. Ultimately, Glucina and Mayumi advocate for a strategic "hydrogen triage". They advise policymakers and industry leaders to direct limited resources and subsidies exclusively toward the narrow, essential niches where hydrogen is truly needed, rather than chasing a broad decarbonization fantasy that the laws of physics and economics simply will not support.