This paper investigates Canada’s endeavor for carbon neutrality by 2050 and its strategic response to the European energy crisis resulting from the Russia-Ukraine war. With a significant potential for hydrogen production, Canada’s hydrogen exports to Europe are poised to reshape its hydrogen supply chains downstream (HSCD). Through a systematic review of 39 papers published before October 2023, our examination explores HSCD components, decision levels, and sustainability perspectives. Consequently, we offer recommendations for scientific, legislative, and industrial sectors for forward horizons. Additionally, this study proposes future research avenues for similar systematic review papers.

Embracing renewable energy signifies a pivotal shift towards devising persistent and eco-conscious energy solutions, crucial for crafting a sustainable and lasting energy landscape. Located in the rugged coastal landscapes of northern Canada, Natuashish, an isolated Inuit community in Newfoundland and Labrador, relies on diesel generators for electricity due to geographical remoteness and the significant logistical and financial barriers to connecting with the provincial power grid. This study addresses the critical need for sustainable and coherent energy solutions in Natuashish, by proposing a robust hybrid renewable energy system for the island. By harnessing sophisticated analytical software like HOMER Pro, this paper endeavors to precisely engineer an energy infrastructure that effortlessly merges green energy alternatives with established sources, maximizing operational effectiveness, steadfastness, and eco-friendliness. The study’s primary goal is to establish a strong hybrid power system in Natuashish that not only satisfies its present energy requirements but also sets the stage for a robust and eco-friendly energy framework for future generations, attempting to substantially decrease dependence on diesel generators, abate environmental repercussions, and foster a cleaner, more renewable energy scenario for the community and its members through leveraging alternative energy resources.

The demand for sustainable energy solutions has intensified due to the growing challenges posed by climate change and the world’s reliance on fossil fuels. Recently, in response to these challenges, policymakers came together to utilize the Western United States distinct geographic advantages and abundance of natural resources to form the first hydrogen hub partnership in the country, called Western Inter-States Hydrogen Hub. Therefore, this work offers insights and recommendations to the stakeholders involved in Western Inter-States Hydrogen Hub to enhance data-driven decision making through a comprehensive examination of the scientific literature with an emphasis on hydrogen’s pathways as a workable solution, particularly based on renewable sources. To that end we compare the economic, environmental, and social effects of various hydrogen production pathways to unfold their sustainability. Finally, we offer some recommendations for scientific, policymaking, and practitioner readers.

This paper delves into the critical exploration of hydrogen supply chains downstream (HSCD) in the Western U.S., responding to the nation’s prioritization of hydrogen as a clean alternative and its ambitious Hydrogen Program Plan for net-zero emissions and enhanced exports. We develop a conceptual model which is utilized to identify gaps in the existing 116 regional and global review papers published from March 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, to November 2023. This leads us to HSCD segments, decision levels, research properties, and sustainability as the necessary criteria to analyze 48 peer-reviewed original journal papers published about HSCD in the Western U.S. until November 2023. Accordingly, we offer future research directions and contribute to the development of effective strategies for a sustainable hydrogen-based future.