Hydrogen and the Hydrogen Economy

What is hydrogen?

Hydrogen is a chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. It is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe, making up about 75% of its elemental mass. Hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is highly flammable and reactive.

Hydrogen is an important industrial feedstock and is used in a variety of applications, including the production of ammonia for fertilizers, in petroleum refining, and as a fuel for rockets and fuel cells. It can be produced by a variety of methods, including steam methane reforming, electrolysis of water, and biomass gasification.

Hydrogen also has potential as a renewable energy carrier and is considered a key element in the transition to a low-carbon economy due to its ability to be produced from renewable sources and its ability to generate electricity without emitting greenhouse gases.

What is the hydrogen economy?

The hydrogen economy is a concept that describes a future energy system in which hydrogen is used as a clean and sustainable energy carrier to power various applications such as transportation, electricity generation, and industrial processes. The basic idea is that hydrogen can be produced from a variety of sources, including renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, and can then be used to generate electricity, heat buildings, and power vehicles.

One of the key advantages of hydrogen is that it produces no emissions when burned or used in fuel cells to generate electricity, making it a promising alternative to fossil fuels. However, production can be energy-intensive, and current methods of production are mostly based on natural gas reforming, which produces carbon dioxide emissions.

To fully realize the potential of the hydrogen economy, research is ongoing to develop new and more sustainable methods of production and storage, as well as to increase the efficiency and reduce the cost of hydrogen fuel cells. Some countries have already started to invest in the development of infrastructure and use, and it is expected that the hydrogen economy will play a growing role in the transition to a low-carbon and sustainable energy system.

Learn More About The Hydrogen Economy

Our Hydrogen Economy e-learning course is part of our Energy 101 catalogue and includes modules on the following key topics:

• Hydrogen Energy Fundamentals
• Green Hydrogen Economy
• Ammonia Energy Fundamentals

Learn more today!

What are the main uses for hydrogen in our economy?

Hydrogen has a variety of uses in our economy, including:

1. Transportation: Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use hydrogen as a fuel source to power the vehicle’s electric motor. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, as they have zero tailpipe emissions and have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector.
2. Industry: Hydrogen is used in a variety of industrial processes, such as refining petroleum, producing ammonia for fertilizer, and in the production of methanol and other chemicals.
3. Power Generation: Hydrogen can be used to generate electricity in fuel cells. Fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, heat, and water vapor, with no greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Energy Storage: Hydrogen can be used as an energy storage medium, allowing excess renewable energy to be stored when it is available and used when demand is high.
5. Heating and Cooking: Hydrogen can be used as a fuel for heating and cooking in residential and commercial buildings. When burned, hydrogen produces heat and water vapor with no greenhouse gas emissions.

Overall, hydrogen has the potential to play a significant role in our economy as a clean energy carrier, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy security. As technologies for hydrogen production, storage, and use continue to improve, the range of applications for hydrogen is expected to expand.

What is the difference between blue, green, pink, and gray hydrogen?

Blue, green, pink, and gray hydrogen are terms used to describe hydrogen produced using different methods or with different levels of carbon emissions.

1. Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas using steam methane reforming (SMR) and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. The process produces hydrogen with lower carbon emissions compared to traditional methods but still emits some carbon dioxide.
2. Green hydrogen is produced from renewable sources of energy, such as wind, solar, or hydropower, using electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This process does not emit any greenhouse gasses, making it a zero-emission method of producing hydrogen.
3. Pink hydrogen is produced from biogas using SMR and CCUS technologies. Biogas is a renewable source of energy produced from organic waste, such as food waste or agricultural waste. This method of hydrogen production has lower carbon emissions compared to blue hydrogen.
4. Grey hydrogen is produced from natural gas using SMR, without carbon capture or other emissions reduction technologies. This method of hydrogen production has the highest carbon emissions and is considered a less sustainable way of producing hydrogen.

How does hydrogen work as an energy storage solution?

Hydrogen can work as an energy storage solution in several ways, including:

1. Hydrogen can be stored in tanks or underground storage facilities until it is needed. This allows excess renewable energy to be stored when it is available and used when demand is high.
2. Hydrogen can be converted back into electricity using fuel cells. Fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, producing water and electricity with no greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Hydrogen can also be used as a fuel to power combustion engines or turbines, generating electricity and heat with low greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Hydrogen can also be used as a feedstock for industrial processes, such as refining petroleum, producing ammonia for fertilizer, and in the production of methanol and other chemicals.

Overall, hydrogen can provide a flexible and scalable energy storage solution that can complement other renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar. As technologies for hydrogen production, storage, and use continue to improve, the role of hydrogen as an energy storage solution is expected to expand.

What are the main processes for producing hydrogen sustainably?

There are several main processes for producing hydrogen sustainably:

1. Electrolysis: This is a process where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using an electric current. This can be powered by renewable sources of electricity such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric power.
2. Biomass Gasification: This process involves heating biomass (such as wood or agricultural waste) in the presence of steam or oxygen to produce a gas which can be converted into hydrogen.
3. Pyrolysis: This is a process where organic materials are heated in the absence of oxygen to produce a gas that can be converted into hydrogen.
4. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting: PEC water splitting uses sunlight and specialized materials to directly split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
5. Microbial Biomass Conversion: Some bacteria and algae can produce hydrogen through the process of fermentation or photosynthesis.

All of these processes have the potential to produce hydrogen sustainably, with minimal environmental impact and minimal greenhouse gas emissions. However, the cost and efficiency of these methods can vary depending on the specific technology and the availability of renewable resources.

Why is renewable energy important to hydrogen production?

Renewable energy is important to hydrogen production for several reasons:

1. Lower greenhouse gas emissions: Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower are renewable and emit little or no greenhouse gases during operation. Using these renewable sources to power electrolysis for hydrogen production results in hydrogen that has a much lower carbon footprint compared to hydrogen produced using fossil fuels.
2. Energy security: Renewable energy sources are often domestically produced and are not subject to price fluctuations or supply disruptions that can occur with fossil fuels. Using renewable energy to produce hydrogen can enhance energy security and reduce dependence on imported fuels.
3. Scalability: Renewable energy sources are scalable, meaning they can be used to produce large quantities of hydrogen. As the demand for hydrogen as a clean energy carrier increases, renewable energy sources will play a critical role in meeting this demand.
4. Diversification of energy mix: Incorporating renewable energy sources into hydrogen production can help diversify the energy mix and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, which are a finite resource.

Overall, renewable energy is essential to the development of a sustainable hydrogen economy, where hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources and used as a clean energy carrier for transportation, industry, and power generation.

What are the largest hydrogen projects in the world?

There are several large hydrogen projects currently being developed or already operational around the world. Here are some examples:

1. NEOM Project: This is a massive $5 billion hydrogen project being developed in Saudi Arabia. The project aims to produce 650 tons of green hydrogen per day by 2025 and eventually increase production to 1.2 million tons per year.
2. The H2H Saltend Project: This project, located in the UK, is a collaboration between a number of companies and organizations, including Equinor, Phillips 66, and the National Grid. The project aims to produce low-carbon hydrogen for use in industrial processes.
3. The H2@Scale Project: This is a US government-led project that aims to develop and demonstrate large-scale, low-cost hydrogen production, storage, and utilization technologies. The project has several components, including a partnership with Toyota to develop fuel cell-powered trucks.
4. The Western Green Energy Hub: This project, located in Western Australia, aims to develop a large-scale green hydrogen production facility using wind and solar power. The project aims to produce up to 50,000 tons of green hydrogen per year by 2024 and eventually increase production to 1.5 million tons per year.
5. The Hywind Tampen Project: This is a project being developed by Equinor in Norway that aims to provide power to offshore oil and gas platforms using wind power and hydrogen fuel cells. The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 200,000 tons per year.

These are just a few examples of the largest hydrogen projects in the world, and there are many more in development or already operational.

What is electrolysis in hydrogen production?

Electrolysis is a process in which an electric current is passed through a liquid or solution containing ions, causing chemical reactions to occur at the electrodes. Electrolysis can be used to produce hydrogen by splitting water (H2O) into its constituent elements, hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2).

In the process of electrolysis, two electrodes, typically made of metals such as platinum or titanium, are placed in a container of water that contains an electrolyte, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH). When an electric current is passed through the electrodes, water molecules are split apart into their constituent atoms, with oxygen gas being produced at the positively charged electrode (the anode) and hydrogen gas being produced at the negatively charged electrode (the cathode).

The overall reaction can be represented as follows:

2H2O(l) → 2H2(g) + O2(g)

The process of electrolysis can be used to produce hydrogen in a renewable and sustainable way, as long as the electricity used to power the process is generated from renewable sources such as solar or wind power. This makes electrolysis an important technology for the development of a hydrogen economy, where hydrogen is used as a clean and efficient energy source.

What is steam methane reforming?

Steam methane reforming (SMR) is a process used to produce hydrogen from natural gas. In this process, methane (CH4) from natural gas is reacted with high-temperature steam (H2O) to produce hydrogen gas (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO). The chemical reaction can be represented as follows:

CH4 + H2O → CO + 3H2

The process usually occurs at high temperatures (700-1000°C) and high pressures (20-30 bar) in the presence of a catalyst, such as nickel. The carbon monoxide produced in the reaction can be further reacted with steam in a process called water-gas shift (WGS) reaction to produce more hydrogen and carbon dioxide:

CO + H2O → CO2 + H2

The SMR process is widely used to produce hydrogen for industrial processes and is one of the primary methods for producing hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles. However, the process is associated with carbon emissions and is often coupled with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.