Hydrogen is a renewable resource that can be used to reduce carbon emissions in the long term. But it can also contribute to climate change if it leaks, making it worse in the coming decades. This is why the hydrogen-based economy needs to be designed so that leakage is kept to a minimum. Some hydrogen delivery systems could not meet this standard, which would be a problem for the hydrogen economy.
Alternative fuels for transporting hydrogen
Alternative fuels for transporting hydrogen are a potential solution to climate change. They can help the shipping industry reduce their carbon footprint by using less energy than petroleum products. Hydrogen is clean burning and stores more energy per unit weight than most fuels. It can also be used as a chemical feedstock. These benefits could make hydrogen an attractive fuel to decarbonise sectors that are currently lacking viable alternatives. However, the production of hydrogen is currently largely derived from high carbon sources. Moreover, the transport of hydrogen is expensive and bulky.
Hydrogen is produced by converting fossil fuels into hydrogen. The process does not capture carbon dioxide. In fact, it does so indirectly through a process called electrolysis. However, this process is not carbon-free, and scientists have discovered that blue hydrogen emits more greenhouse gases than natural gas through its entire supply chain.
Hydrogen has multiple applications and can be a viable solution to climate change. However, it must be produced in an environmentally responsible manner. Developing hydrogen as a solution for climate change is a complex process, and the process itself is not without challenges. In this report, Carbon Brief explores the hydrogen economy and the challenges it faces. It includes a variety of infographics, interactive charts, and the views of dozens of experts. Hydrogen could play a significant role in net-zero emissions for a number of sectors, including transportation, power generation, and industrial processes.
Alternative fuels for transporting hydrogen are an important part of the solution for climate change. During the last decade, nearly 40 gigawatts of green hydrogen projects were installed worldwide. The European Commission recently released a strategy for a climate-neutral Europe in July 2020. It cites the goal of developing 40 gigawatts of electrolysers by 2030. In addition, the European Commission’s vice-president Franz Timmermans characterized clean hydrogen as an “essential” component of the EU’s “green deal” which aims to achieve net-zero emissions in the next several decades.
Although hydrogen has been viewed as the future of net-zero vehicles, it has also been argued that hydrogen could also play a role in decarbonising transportation in harder-to-decarbonise areas. For example, in the case of light trucks and buses, hydrogen could be an important part of the solution.
Cost of emissions-free hydrogen
Clean hydrogen as a solution to climate change is becoming a hot topic in debates over climate policy. The gas can be used for energy and transport. Some industries are already converting to it. Ironmaking, for example, uses hydrogen instead of coal. This means less carbon is released into the atmosphere. However, there are challenges. The production of emissions-free hydrogen requires an overhaul of existing infrastructure. In addition, the cost of the technology is a significant hurdle.
Currently, the cost of emissions-free hydrogen is high compared to the cost of natural gas and coal. But there is a solution. Hydrogen can be produced with low-cost fossil fuel technologies. The process will also create a market for renewable energy such as wind and solar power. However, this is just a first step. Ultimately, the cost of emissions-free hydrogen as a solution to climate change needs to be affordable for all societies.
A recent report commissioned by the International Council on Clean Transportation estimated that the cost of green hydrogen could be reduced by half by 2050 by promoting R&D. The study also noted that carbon pricing could help accelerate hydrogen scalability. The report also suggests that the government spend $10 billion to promote hydrogen and to ensure it’s available to consumers at low cost.
The cost of hydrogen is high because of the infrastructure needed for its production and distribution. This infrastructure will cost trillions of dollars. Natural gas, on the other hand, is relatively cheap and can be distributed economically. However, the transportation costs of gas are not cheap. Hydrogen can be stored underground in large amounts and provide clean backup electricity in a pinch.
Currently, there are about 75 million tons of hydrogen produced worldwide. Much of this is used to make critical chemicals and ammonia for fertilizers. The majority of this hydrogen is produced by reforming fossil hydrocarbons. This process produces about ten kilograms of carbon dioxide for every kilogram of hydrogen. This is called grey hydrogen and is delivered for around $1 per kilogram.
Applications of hydrogen in industry
Hydrogen is a relatively cheap energy carrier, but its production can be more expensive when connected to the grid. It also has higher electricity costs because grid connection is not included in the price of hydrogen. While it is not green, hydrogen can be used to make electricity and is considered to be a renewable source of energy. Although the initial capital costs of an electrolyser are high, these costs can be offset with high usage rates.
Hydrogen gas plants are large, modular facilities with tightly stacked cells that separate hydrogen from water. Many of these modules can be linked together to create large facilities that will produce abundant clean hydrogen. For example, Shell recently began operating a large electrolyser in Germany. This facility will use electricity from wind farms and produce hydrogen. The hydrogen from this plant will be used to remove sulfur from aviation fuel.
Most hydrogen is produced using a process called steam methane reforming. The process uses a catalyst to react methane and high-pressure steam to produce hydrogen. It also produces carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is then removed, leaving pure hydrogen. This process can also be used to create hydrogen from other fossil fuels. Unfortunately, steam methane reforming emits 830 million metric tons of carbon every year, about the equivalent of the United Kingdom and Indonesia combined.
Hydrogen may also help remake geopolitics by reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-exporting nations and improving the energy security of importers. The IEA also notes that hydrogen can be a versatile fuel and can help create skilled jobs. Hydrogen can be used to fuel engines and other equipment, and it can be a reliable carrier of energy between different locations and time zones. It can also reinforce separate energy systems, making it a viable alternative to fossil fuels.
Hydrogen can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in various parts of our economy. It can provide long-term energy storage for the electric power sector and provide heat for industrial processes. It is currently used mainly in the petrochemical, food processing, and fertilizer industries. However, countries like Japan are exploring its use in public transportation.
Complexity of hydrogen supply chain
Hydrogen is a natural gas with a low density, which makes it difficult to transport long distances. This makes transportation expensive and requires liquefaction, which involves storing hydrogen at very low temperatures. There are several technologies under consideration that make this process easier, but they will need to be more cost-effective.
The hydrogen value chain is highly complex and fragmented, but it also holds enormous potential. Private investors and governments are pouring money into hydrogen, and large companies are quickly entering the market. But there are still many risks involved. It will require a lot of planning and stamina to successfully navigate the complex ecosystem.
Depending on the source of hydrogen, the supply chain may be decentralized or centralized. Hydrogen can be used in a variety of industrial processes, fuel cell vehicles, and electricity generation. It can also be used as a source of heat for buildings. There are several stages in the hydrogen supply chain, from production to storage.
As a small molecule, hydrogen is easily leaked into the atmosphere, posing a significant climate challenge. Leakage from existing infrastructure is difficult to quantify, so the global cost of leaking hydrogen is unknown. Measurement efforts have focused on safety concerns, risk assessment, and regulations.
Despite its many advantages as a transportation fuel, hydrogen has many challenges as a fossil fuel. It offers advantages in refuelling time and range compared to batteries and electric cars. However, the initial abatement cost of replacing industry GHG emissions with hydrogen is high.
Hydrogen’s full atmospheric warming impacts have yet to be fully studied, and more comprehensive climate models are needed. However, published data and minor improvements to the standard GWP metric can serve as a first-order analysis. By incorporating these factors, it is possible to better model hydrogen’s effects.
Hydrogen leakage is another important factor that must be studied and reduced. The hydrogen supply chain must be more efficient to avoid leakage and ensure a clean supply.
