Record Hydrogen Efficiency Gives U.S. a Clean Power Edge

Idaho lab’s record hydrogen efficiency could redefine America’s clean power path

10 Oct 2025

A quiet revolution is brewing in America’s clean energy labs, and its fuel is hydrogen. Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory have achieved record-breaking efficiency, producing 36.7 kilowatt-hours of electricity per kilogram of hydrogen with Bloom Energy’s high-temperature electrolyzer. The feat, published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, could mark a major step toward making clean hydrogen affordable enough to rival fossil fuels.

Unlike traditional electrolysis, which splits water using large amounts of power, the Idaho system needs far less energy by using heat and steam in the process. The result is deceptively simple: more hydrogen, less electricity. Experts say the advance could reshape how the U.S. powers factories, heavy vehicles, and even parts of the electric grid.

The hydrogen industry is already shifting into high gear. Energy firms and manufacturers are racing to expand production capacity, while utilities cautiously experiment with blending hydrogen into natural gas networks. In California, Southern California Gas Company’s H2 Hydrogen Home project is testing how hydrogen can power everyday life.

“This isn’t a future fantasy; it’s happening now,” said one clean energy strategist. “That level of efficiency changes everything about the economics of hydrogen.”

Companies such as Bloom, Plug, and Linde are ramping up facilities, while the Department of Energy’s Midwest Hydrogen Hub, led by the University of Illinois, is building out regional networks for production, storage, and delivery. Together, these efforts could make the U.S. a major player in the global hydrogen race alongside Europe and Asia.

Still, barriers remain. High equipment costs, infrastructure gaps, and evolving regulations pose real challenges. Yet momentum is unmistakable. If the current pace holds, hydrogen could soon power more than dreams; it could power the next chapter of America’s clean energy story.