IELTS Reading Passage With Questions and Answers

Paragraph 1: Hydrogen has long been heralded as a clean, abundant energy source capable of revolutionizing global power systems. When used in fuel cells, hydrogen produces only water as a byproduct, making it an ideal candidate for decarbonizing transportation, industry, and power generation. Yet, despite its potential, hydrogen power remains a complex and controversial field.

Paragraph 2: Hydrogen can be produced through several methods. “Grey” hydrogen is generated from natural gas, emitting carbon dioxide. “Blue” hydrogen captures and stores these emissions, while “green” hydrogen — produced via electrolysis using renewable electricity — offers the cleanest form. However, green hydrogen remains expensive and energy-intensive to produce, limiting its widespread adoption.

Paragraph 3: The transport sector has seen notable hydrogen applications. Fuel-cell vehicles can refuel quickly and travel longer distances than battery-electric cars. Countries like Japan and South Korea are heavily investing in hydrogen infrastructure, while the European Union promotes it as part of its climate-neutral strategy. However, limited refueling networks and storage challenges persist.

Paragraph 4: Critics argue that hydrogen is less energy-efficient than direct electrification. Energy losses occur during conversion, compression, and storage. Supporters counter that hydrogen is essential for industries difficult to electrify — such as steelmaking, shipping, and aviation — where high energy density is required.

Paragraph 5: Economically, the hydrogen revolution depends on cost reductions in renewable electricity and improvements in electrolyzer technology. Analysts predict that, as solar and wind prices fall, green hydrogen could become cost-competitive by 2035. If realized, hydrogen could play a pivotal role in achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century.