The Marshall Islands (RMI) energy mix is dominated by imported fossil fuels, which account for roughly 90% to 97% of the country’s electricity generation. The nation is actively transitioning toward renewables to reduce vulnerability to oil price shocks and combat climate change.

Between 1946 and 1958, the United States conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands, including the first,1952 thermonuclear (“hydrogen”) device (Ivy Mike) and the 1954 15-megaton Castle Bravo test, which was 1,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb and produced widespread radioactive fallout across inhabited atolls, including Rongelap and Utirik. These tests caused massive radioactive contamination and, in some cases, vaporized entire islands. Marshall Islanders were exposed to high levels of radiation, leading to health issues and the displacement of residents.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) identifies green hydrogen as a critical component in its transition away from fossil fuels and toward its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. As one of the nations most vulnerable to sea-level rise, the RMI is leveraging international partnerships to explore hydrogen’s potential in decarbonizing its energy and maritime sectors.

While the RMI does not currently host large-scale green hydrogen production facilities, it is active in several developmental areas.