While Greta Thunberg continues fighting for the climate crisis, scientists all over the world are trying to add to the cause by experimenting with alternative fuels.
Today, several studies aim to even create an engine that can function solely on water. Well, until that happens, a better alternative is – green hydrogen!
Nearly everything about hydrogen makes it the perfect clean energy source. Not only is it a ubiquitous raw material, comprising some 90% of the universe according to the Royal Society of Chemistry, but hydrogen gas can also be used as a fuel. Its multiple application encompasses powering cars, heating homes and enabling heavy industry that leaves only water and heat as byproducts.
Global Green Hydrogen Scenario Influencing Green Energy Initiatives
The opportunity to choose hydrogen to help solve major energy problems has never been better. The recent triumphs of electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies have demonstrated the ability of policy and technology innovation to create a worldwide clean energy industry.
Energy from renewable sources can be transported using hydrogen-based fuels over long distances, from places with abundant energy supply to places thousands of kilometers away that lack it. It is becoming one of the best options for storing energy from renewable sources as a result.
At the UN Climate Conference, COP26, green hydrogen was mentioned in a variety of pledges to reduce emissions as a way to decarbonize heavy industries, long-haul freight, shipping, and aviation. Today, hydrogen is recognized as a crucial element of a net-zero economy by both corporate entities and governments. Prominent green energy initiatives include:
- In order to lower the price of green hydrogen, the Green Hydrogen Catapult, a United Nations program, stated that it is virtually tripling its objective for green electrolysers from 25 gigawatts set last year to 45 gigawatts by 2027.
- In order to ensure energy security for all European residents, the European Commission has adopted a set of legislative recommendations to decarbonize the EU gas market by supporting the adoption of renewable and low carbon gasses, including hydrogen.
- With its new hydrogen plan, the United Arab Emirates has likewise raised its goals, hoping to control one-fourth of the world’s low-carbon hydrogen market by 2030.
- Within the next ten years, Japan plans to promote the use of hydrogen by accelerating research and development spending $3.4 billion from its green innovation fund.
Framework and Scope of Development For Green Hydrogen
It’s no secret that many energy professionals believe green hydrogen will revolutionize the fight against global warming. But there are difficulties. Green hydrogen is a relatively new technology in the energy sector, despite the fact that it is a well-established chemical feedstock in the chemical and agricultural industries.
This indicates that no infrastructure for green hydrogen has been built. To sufficiently ramp up the usage of green hydrogen at scale, we lack reliable supply chains, production capabilities, and transportation networks.
An Extrapolate study predicts that the global market for green hydrogen would be valued at 9.8 billion USD by 2028, which helps put the potential for green hydrogen in the global context. Green hydrogen has gained popularity as a result of aggressive climate targets, a critical need to decarbonize current energy systems, and a deadline to stop the worst effects of climate change.
Increased cooperation between public policy and corporate funding is one of the requirements for scaling up the usage of green hydrogen.
A financial reality that won’t alter overnight is that producing green hydrogen now costs far more than producing “gray” hydrogen, which is more widely used and is created from natural gas. However, well-established industries are figuring out how to advance toward clean energy targets. For instance, industrial gas companies are forming partnerships and joint ventures to produce green hydrogen even if they now lack the capacity to do so.
Prominent Green Hydrogen Companies Globally Making Their Mark
As green energy initiatives continue to be on the rise, several private stakeholders are venturing into making the green hydrogen dream a reality. Mentioned below are some prominent players and their individual contributions.
1. Reliance Industries Ltd.
Analysts are generally bullish about Reliance Industries Ltd.’s transition strategy because the company is not a newcomer to hydrogen. The company has disclosed a $10 billion initial commitment to create one of India’s most complete ecosystems for green hydrogen and new energy. Additionally, Reliance Industries Ltd. and Stiesdal have teamed up to make it easier to lower costs and commercialize their pressurized alkaline electrolyzer technology, which will help the business further achieve its production objectives for green hydrogen.
2. Shell plc
Large-scale green hydrogen initiatives are being undertaken by Shell plc, and HydrogenForecast.com describes Shell’s general strategy as being very upbeat. The business started a project in 2015 to install green hydrogen fuel pumps throughout Germany, with the goal of expanding the operation to 400 places by 2023.
The firm, a member of the Hydrogen Council, revealed intentions to erect in the Netherlands the biggest green hydrogen plant in Europe. The project, which would directly serve the company’s Rotterdam refinery, is planned to be more than ten times bigger than the largest plant in Europe right now, according to Bloomberg. By 2025, the plant’s operations are expected to start.
3. Linde plc
The Hydrogen Council is a member of Linde plc. The corporation has invested in wind-powered plants that transform water to hydrogen and predicted that by 2035, hydrogen vehicles will likely be competitive with electric automobiles. The company started producing green hydrogen on a large scale in Greece, France, and other European nations as of November 2022. The company’s carbon footprint is reduced by producing green hydrogen through electrolysis utilizing sustainable wind and solar energy.
Additionally, the corporation has stated that it intends to invest in production techniques known as steam reformation, which use catalysts to turn natural gas into green hydrogen. The statement comes after business plans to use a 35-megawatt proton exchange membrane electrolyzer to expand green hydrogen generation in the United States. By 2025, this plant is anticipated to run at full capacity.
To Wrap It Up
Research initiatives are currently being carried out in many areas across the world to look into the potential of utilizing hydrogen as an energy source. We must consider a variety of options if we want to reach net zero in a timely, equitable, and just manner. The decarbonization of households, transportation, industry, and power may be supported by scaling up and making choices from the clean hydrogen palette. Some hydrogen hues may lose significance in the future while others may burn more brilliantly.
What is certain, however, is that as we move away from our historical reliance on fossil fuels and toward eco-friendly alternatives to power our homes, companies, and transportation, the hydrogen rainbow will play a big role in helping us reach net zero. The energy mix also includes solar, wind, and nuclear power in addition to hydrogen.