In the case of aluminium, you start with bauxite which is "free" - you just need labour - then you add energy to make aluminium which you can sell for a profit.

In the case of hydrogen, you start with water - which is "free" - then you add energy to make hydrogen which you then sell at a profit to someone who will make electricity from it. They will make less electricity than was put in to make the hydrogen in the first place.

If the people with the electricity could get together with the people who wanted to use the electricity then they could cut out the hydrogen step altogether and save money and other resources.

That is why I maintain that hydrogen is only a way to move energy about and is not a source of energy in itself.