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Abstract Heavy fossil fuels consumption has raised concerns over the energy security and climate change while hydrogen is regarded as the fuel of future to decarbonize global energy use. Hydrogen is commonly used as feedstocks in chemical industries and has a wide range of energy applications such as vehicle fuel, boiler fuel, and energy storage. However, the development of hydrogen energy in Malaysia is sluggish despite the predefined targets in hydrogen roadmap. This paper aims to study the future directions of hydrogen economy in Malaysia considering a variety of hydrogen applications. The potential approaches for hydrogen production, storage, distribution and application in Malaysia have been reviewed and the challenges of hydrogen economy are discussed. A conceptual framework for the accomplishment of hydrogen economy has been proposed where renewable hydrogen could penetrate Malaysia market in three phases. In the first phase, the market should aim to utilize the hydrogen as feedstock for chemical industries. Once the hydrogen production side is matured in the second phase, hydrogen should be used as fuel in internal combustion engines or burners. In the final phase hydrogen should be used as fuel for automobiles (using fuel cell), fuel-cell combined heat and power (CHP) and as energy storage. Highlights • Biomass and solar pathways for hydrogen production could be feasible in Malaysia. • Hydrogen can be used as transportation fuel, heating fuel and energy storage. • Hydrogen economy in Malaysia faces technical, economic and social challenges. • Renewable hydrogen could be commercialized in 3 phases via the proposed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will introduce the concept of 100% renewable energy and the role hydrogen and fuel cells can play for storage and transportation sectors. The importance, necessity and possibility of an overall global transition from fossil and nuclear-based fuels to renewable energy fuels using electricity and hydrogen as clean energy carriers will be summarized. Polluted, inefficient and unhealthy societies of today are missing energy self-sufficient, better managed, in harmony with nature ecological communities. The possible role of hydrogen fuel cells in fulfilling this target will be demonstrated and the success stories of the leading countries will be given. Renewable energy investments which have started in 2013 increased steadily and reached to 290 billion dollars towards the end of 2015. Today's increasing investments and cheaper supply of renewable energy will in turn effect the hydrogen production costs and increase the diversion from fossil fuels to cheap renewable energy. This reality confirms that hydrogen energy technologies will play an important role in reaching the 100% renewable energy target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]