Hydrogen energy is an ideal energy carrier. Hydrogen production from activated metal splitting water has the characteristics of solid-state containing energy, in-situ hydrogen production, supplied hydrogen on demand, and lower requirements for water quality. In this paper, the common problems of activated aluminum alloy are reviewed from the thermodynamics and the kinetics of Al/H2O reaction, and the feasible methods of engineering applied are summarized from the internal factors and the external factors affecting Al/H2O reaction. The key issue of activated aluminum is to adopt multi-element alloying and suitable fabrication processing, and the potential and outbreak of the engineering application of Al/H2O reaction is extreme environment. Moreover, it is pointed out that the predictive investigation and the quantitative investigation of Al/H2O spontaneous reaction, the recycling of Al/H2O reaction products in industrialization are the further development direction. Finally, the industrial application of hydrogen produced by activated aluminum splitting water is low-cost, environment-friendly, safe and reliable.