Digital assisted hydrogen supply chain optimization: a bibliometric and thematic review of methods, trends, and future directions
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study presents a bibliometric and thematic analysis of 283 Scopus‑indexed publications on hydrogen supply chain optimization from 2004 to 2025. The analysis uses VOSviewer and the Bibliometrix R package with fractional counting for keyword co‑occurrence. The study maps the intellectual structure of the field, identifies ten thematic clusters, and traces methodological evolution from deterministic mixed‑integer linear programming to hybrid stochastic and artificial intelligence approaches. The analysis reports quantitative trends in publication volume, geographic distribution, and citation concentration. The literature shows that multi‑period frameworks consistently find decentralized steam methane reforming optimal for early markets. These frameworks then transition to large‑scale electrolysis with pipeline distribution under carbon pricing. However, only 4.2% of the models validate against empirical data. Social equity metrics remain absent from the literature. The study concludes that next‑generation hydrogen supply chain optimization requires digital twin architectures, multi‑energy coupling, robust risk measures, and policy‑linked objective functions. These advances, however, must be accompanied by empirical validation and open data standards.
Language: English
Subfield: Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,170
OpenAlex ID: W7167803516