Converting green energy from wind and solar power to hydrogen is the goal of the alternative energy industry. Substantial investments are being made into electrolyzers to break water apart into hydrogen and oxygen.

Large capital investments are required and the amount of electricity required is large. Currently, it takes between 50 and 60 kilowatt hours of electricity to produce one kilogram of hydrogen. Since there are wide variations in the cost of electrical energy, the cost per kilogram of hydrogen varies from $1.00 (50 kWh times $0.02/kilowatt hour) to $4.50 (60 kWh times $0.075/kWh). The electrolyzer itself costs about $2 million for a 2 MW capacity or enough capacity to make 960 kilograms per day at the 50 kWh/kilogram rate.