China, the world's top hydrogen producer, has accelerated its green hydrogen plans amid soaring fossil fuel prices, while the EU and US are also stepping up investment. The global energy crisis, triggered by the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has pushed oil and gas prices to record highs and tightened supplies worldwide. In response, governments are rapidly turning to alternative energy pathways, with green hydrogen emerging as a key tool for energy security. China's National Energy Administration (NEA) has earmarked 41 pilot projects in nine regions to advance hydrogen across the entire value chain, from production to storage and application. The 15th five-year plan, released last month, now lists hydrogen as a "future industry." Meanwhile, the European Union approved a €6 billion state-aid package for renewable hydrogen, and the United States has preserved $5 billion worth of hydrogen hubs that were slated for closure. According to the NEA, hydrogen is a "strategic lever" for national energy autonomy and resilience. A study led by Roxana Shafiee, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard University Center for the Environment, warned that even if production costs fall, "storage and distribution costs will prevent hydrogen from being cost-competitive in many sectors." Shafiee added that "the opportunities for hydrogen may be narrower than previously thought." Despite these challenges, the surge in fossil fuel prices and geopolitical risks are reshaping the energy market, giving green hydrogen a chance to play a pivotal role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as steelmaking and shipping. The momentum behind policy support and investment suggests a more resilient, diversified energy landscape is on the horizon.