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Hydrogen has long been hyped as the “Swiss army knife” of the energy transition, but today – despite billions in investment – it largely remains limited to niche industrial applications. In a new review article, published in Nature Reviews Clean Technology, we look at where hydrogen could plausibly become competitive – and the applications where it is unlikely to ever be a viable solution. For each use case, the review looks at the cost and carbon emissions of using hydrogen relative to alternative solutions, identifying the barriers which stand in the way of uptake. For example, high-profile applications, such as home heating and…

  The International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday that the global economy could suffer a “significant slowdown” this year from tariffs imposed by the US and the uncertainty many nations face over trade impacts. The IMF slashed growth forecasts for the US, China and most countries because US tariffs were at 100-year highs and said trade tensions could slow growth further. The Fund’s new World Economic Outlook described Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs announced on April 2 as “a major negative shock,” and said “tariffs and uncertainty will lead to a significant slowdown in global growth in the near term.”   ALSO…

  US Vice President JD Vance met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss trade and other issues this week as the two countries seek to forge an agreement over tariffs by mid-year. In a speech on Tuesday in the northwest city of Jaipur, Vance said the US was keen to sell more energy and defence equipment to India, while noting that ties between the two nations will shape the century. But he also voiced a curious warning. “If India and the United States work together successfully, we’re going to see a 21st century that is prosperous and peaceful,”…

This article is an on-site version of our Energy Source newsletter. Premium subscribers can sign up here to get the newsletter delivered every Tuesday and Thursday. Standard subscribers can upgrade to Premium here, or explore all FT newslettersHello and welcome back to Energy Source, coming to you from New York and Sydney.Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, has warned the lessons of the energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “have not yet been fully understood”. His comments to my colleague Malcolm Moore come as global leaders descend on London for discussions on energy security.UK Prime Minister Sir…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Oil & Gas industry myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.The lessons of the energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have not been fully learned, the International Energy Agency has said, as more than 60 global leaders are set to arrive in London for discussions on energy security. Sir Keir Starmer, the UK prime minister, will this week host Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, as well as ministers from the US, Japan, France, Germany and India, and the heads of dozens of energy companies, for a…

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the worldDonald Trump’s global trade war is threatening a corner of America that voted in droves for the Republican president last year: oil-producing North Dakota.It might also upend the president’s plans to boost fossil fuel production in the state that launched America’s shale revolution. Trump’s tariff rhetoric triggered an oil price sell-off, with US prices plunging below $60 a barrel (West Texas crude settled at $63.08 a barrel on Monday). The escalation raised concerns across the US shale patch, some of…

MP Materials, operator of the Mountain Pass mine in California’s Mojave Desert, is ramping up supplies of the critical ingredients and magnets used in autos, electronics and military hardware as China tightens exports. Since China retaliated against President Trump’s tariffs by restricting exports of rare earth minerals — crucial to making the magnets that go into electric motors, used for cars, electronics, robots and wind turbines — MP Materials founder and CEO Jim Litinsky’s phone has been ringing off the hook from companies desperate for new suppliers. “The sense of urgency, I’ve never seen anything like it,” he told Forbes.…

Current Climate brings you the latest news about the business of sustainability every Monday. Sign up to get it in your inbox. Getty Images President Trump has played up his plans to boost U.S. energy production, though so far his priority is doing that with fossil fuels instead of renewable power. And his efforts to eliminate federal subsidies for clean power created by the Inflation Reduction Act and other policies enacted during the Biden Administration are quickly having an impact on that industry. Since January, investments totalling $7.9 billion for 16 large-scale factories and other projects have been cancelled, closed…

Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis, or National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), for a joint exploration project in the Etosha-Okavango basin onshore southeastern Angola. ReconAfrica said the agreement with Angola’s national concessionaire and regulator is a strategic addition to its portfolio. The company said in a media release that the deal creates an opportunity for early entry into onshore Angola at a low cost and with minimal work commitments. ReconAfrica said the agreement complements its initiatives in Namibia, adding 5.2 million acres in to the…

Pakistan’s exploding security situation springing out from its western border catches many political commentators by surprise, especially given Islamabad’s closer historical partnership with the Taliban. Since Aug. 15, 2021, the Taliban has followed the policy of continual hostility for Islamabad’s security apprehensions, even questioning its own past relationship with Pakistan. Taliban’s volte-face reflected through sponsoring and sheltering anti-Pakistan militant groups like Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the growing intimacy with India and Iran, mainly considered the regional competitors of Pakistan. The obvious explanation for the Taliban’s drift away from Pakistan, as noted by many Afghan experts, is the mistrust and skepticism…