A review with 40 refs. covering partial oxidn. of refinery residues, recovery of H-2 from refinery gases and by low-temp. methods, electrolysis of H2O, gasification of C, efficiency of H-2 production and perspectives like biomass as a raw material, new methods for recovery from syngas, biol. and photoelectrochem. methods, thermocatalytic and thermal dissocn. of hydrocarbons.