The Hydrogen Color Wheel
The hydrogen industry currently produces 800 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, comparable to the emissions output of Germany. While the industry stands as a massive polluter, hydrogen is considered vital to the transition of a net-zero world due to the fact it only emits water when burned. The main issue causing the industry to have such a high level of carbon output is due to the process most commonly utilized to create it.
It is uncommon for hydrogen to exist as a gas, meaning in order for hydrogen to be used as an energy source it must be separated from other elements. This process of separation results in hydrogen being designated a specific color based on the production method utilized to generate it.
Grey hydrogen is currently the most common form and is produced by using natural gas or methane. While this still has a high carbon output, it is still less than what is generated from black or brown hydrogen which uses coal in the process. These methods differ from blue, turquoise, and green hydrogen which are considered more environmentally friendly and are the kinds of hydrogen considered essential to meeting climate goals.
Blue Hydrogen Transition Bypassed
Blue hydrogen is produced through steam reforming. This method still produces carbon, but is considered “low-carbon” as it captures that output and stores it underground. However, about 10-20% of the carbon created in this process cannot be captured and will therefore be released into the atmosphere.
Despite this, companies in the oil and gas industry have heavily invested in blue hydrogen projects, seeing it as a way to continue using natural gas infrastructure. While these companies have tried to profit off of the blue carbon industries, countries are favoring a more direct transition to green hydrogen.
Of all methods, green hydrogen is the cleanest method to produce. This is achieved through a process known as electrolysis which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The electricity required for this process is generated by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.
Japan, Canada, China, the US and the EU all have undertaken initiatives to grow green-hydrogen projects and infrastructure, preferring this form over blue carbon. Hydrogen offers a path to decarbonize many industries which cannot currently rely on electrification, and green hydrogen is viewed as one of the most effective and cleanest ways to achieve a net-zero economy.
The Problem with Costs
The resistance to immediately transitioning to mostly green hydrogen stems from the costs incurred setting up necessary infrastructure. Due to green hydrogen relying on renewable energy in its production process, it requires large amounts of cheap renewable energy to be generated in order for the electrolysis process to be carried out.
As the entire process is capital intensive, manufacturing of renewable technologies and electrolysers needs to be expanded to lessen the overall cost of production. The current governmental initiatives are looking to minimize these costs and encourage further investment in the sector in order to speed up the transition to entirely green carbon.
With the introduction of incentives and national programs to scale up production, this transition can be achieved successfully and will ultimately be a major step towards global net zero emissions.
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