Renewable Hydrogen storage pathways for decentralized energy systems in remote Indian communities: A review of technologies, optimization strategies, and policy perspectives

• Hydrogen storage reviewed for decentralized energy access in rural India • Comparative analysis of compressed, liquid, and solid-state storage systems • Renewable hydrogen pathways tailored to India’s solar, wind, and biomass resources • Techno-economic and policy optimization strategies critically synthesized • Conceptual framework aligns hydrogen adoption with India’s 2070 net-zero goal Remote communities in India predominantly depend on diesel and conventional biomass, resulting in high costs and significant emissions. Batteries are effective only for short-duration applications, while pumped-hydro storage faces geographical constraints, making hydrogen a promising alternative for seasonal and transportable energy storage. With a specific energy of 33.6 kWh kg⁻¹, hydrogen is particularly suited to decentralized microgrid configurations. This review integrates diverse hydrogen storage technologies, compressed, liquid, and solid-state, with renewable production pathways such as solar and wind electrolysis and biomass gasification, specifically targeting rural Indian contexts. A systematic search, conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocols and using predefined Boolean operators, yielded 120 relevant studies. This work critically examines optimization strategies, including linear and mixed-integer linear programming, stochastic and dynamic models, and multi-objective evolutionary algorithms, combined with recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for improved forecasting and operational control. Comparative case studies highlight transitions such as photovoltaic-to-hydrogen in Ladakh, wind-to-hydrogen in Gujarat, and biomass-to-hydrogen combined heat and power in Northeast India, revealing performance metrics and implementation bottlenecks. Key barriers include high capital costs, energy losses during compression and liquefaction, and limited policy support in rural areas. Opportunities exist in modular energy hubs, indigenous manufacturing, and targeted incentives. A synthesized conceptual framework is proposed to align techno-economic, environmental, and social dimensions, identifying strategic priorities to accelerate hydrogen adoption and support India’s net-zero emissions target by 2070.