This document, presented today by Israel Hurtado, president of AMH2, identifies significant barriers and opportunities to develop a hydrogen economy in the country.

Among the main challenges, he points out the existence of few specific incentives for hydrogen projects, which limits investor interest.

During the presentation of this document, Israel Hurtado pointed out that in order to continue advancing further in the development of the hydrogen industry in Mexico, clear policies and regulations, investment in research and development, as well as a State Policy on clean hydrogen are required.

"Mexico does not have a national hydrogen strategy, it is usually convened by governments, but today we take a step forward and present this Industrial Hydrogen Strategy, from the industrial point of view, from the point of view of companies and from the point of view of the Association," Hurtado said.

The study also mentions obstacles such as inadequate fiscal policies and the lack of established standards for the production, transport and storage of clean hydrogen.

"Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensure the safe and efficient scalability of clean hydrogen infrastructure in Mexico," the study mentions.

However, this document highlights that our country has significant opportunities to emerge as a leader in the production of green hydrogen.

He explains that the country's abundant renewable energy resources, especially in solar, wind, and geothermal energy, offer a great advantage, so by leveraging these resources, Mexico has the potential to produce competitive green hydrogen, both for domestic consumption and for export.

In addition, it notes, existing natural gas infrastructure, such as pipelines and storage facilities, can be repurposed for hydrogen transportation and distribution, reducing upfront investment costs.

The study also highlights the potential of hydrogen to play a key role in industrial decarbonization, particularly in sectors such as oil refining, cement production, and steelmaking.

Integrating hydrogen into these high-emission industries would not only reduce Mexico's carbon footprint, but would also increase energy efficiency and promote energy security by diversifying the country's energy matrix.

The Industrial Hydrogen Strategy for Mexico highlights that the development of a hydrogen economy in Mexico generates important job opportunities that cover the entire hydrogen value chain, from production and logistics, to research and development of new technologies.

In addition, it states that Mexico's strategic location as an exporter of green hydrogen to North America and Europe positions it as a crucial player in the global hydrogen market.

The document stresses that in order to capitalise on the opportunities that exist in the hydrogen industry, it is necessary to establish a National Hydrogen Policy, as it is essential to have a clear and coherent regulatory framework to guide investments, standardise procedures and ensure the safe development of projects.

Likewise, it is necessary to develop incentives and regulations, for which the Government must implement fiscal incentives, such as tax exemptions, incentives and subsidies, to encourage private investment in hydrogen projects.

In addition, it is vital to develop robust safety standards and technical standards to ensure the long-term success of the industry.

Another factor that the study points out as a priority is to promote public-private partnerships, since collaborations between government and industry actors are necessary to promote innovation, technological advances and infrastructure development.

It also mentions that Mexico must continue to build partnerships with countries such as Denmark, to benefit from knowledge exchange, technology transfer and financing opportunities. This also positions Mexico as a key player in the global green hydrogen supply chain.

The document highlights as a great area of opportunity the technical training required to design, implement and maintain hydrogen systems, and to have an adequate and modernized infrastructure for the storage and transport of this energy vector.

"Mexico has a high potential for the production of green hydrogen, so currently 16 projects in different stages of development are opening up space, driven by the need to reduce carbon emissions and with investments estimated at 20 billion dollars.

"In addition, there are 20 pilot project initiatives in various regions of the country for the production, consumption and export of clean hydrogen and its derivatives for different uses and applications, such as heavy transport and industrial decarbonization," the study highlights.

The AMH2 estimates that the clean hydrogen industry could generate investments of 60 billion dollars over the next 20 years.

Also present during the event were Deputy César Rendón; José Luis Sánchez, ERM consultant; Dieter Femfert, vice president of the AMH2; Renata Herrera, secretary of the AMH2 Council; Mads Knudsen, from the Embassy of Denmark in Mexico; and Manuel Tamayo, treasurer of the AMH2.

Hydrogen for Green Recovery and Jobs