2023-07-20 07:05:00
In a world increasingly aware of climate change, the search for clean and sustainable energy sources has never been more urgent. Among the many proposed solutions, one that has gained a lot of attention recently is green hydrogen. But what exactly is green hydrogen, and is it really the energy solution it promises to be?
Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced through the electrolysis of water, a process that splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. To some readers this will sound like a process for making hipster cocktails, but it is actually something that has been done since the 19th century and is a common process. What makes hydrogen “green” is that the electricity used in this process comes from renewable sources, such as solar, hydrothermal, or wind power.
Sounds great right? But, as is often the case with things that sound too good to be true, there are a few considerations to keep in mind.
First, the production of green hydrogen is currently quite expensive. According to the Hydrogen Council, the cost of producing green hydrogen is currently between $2.50 and $6.00 per kilogram, compared to just $1.50 per kilogram for “grey” hydrogen, which is produced in gas-based fuel refineries. natural. Gray hydrogen has a cousin, blue hydrogen, which is when carbon capture technologies are used in the gray hydrogen production process. All these colors used to describe a transparent and odorless gas only confuse the world more.
However, the most important consideration for whether it is actually an energy solution is understanding how hydrogen can be used in practical ways. In its purest form, it can be used in cells to produce electricity. These cells are used in some electric vehicles and in stationary applications to generate electricity. Hydrogen can also be burned directly in an internal combustion engine, similar to gasoline.
Although green hydrogen does not emit CO2 during its production or use, the real challenge lies in storing and transporting it safely and efficiently.
Hydrogen is stored and transported either as a compressed gas or as a cryogenic liquid. Other forms of storage, such as metal hydrides and porous materials, are also being investigated, but these are not yet widely used. However, being a flammable gas it can be dangerous, even more so when compressed. If not handled correctly there are risks of decompression or leakage causing violent explosions.
So is green hydrogen the answer to our energy problems? The answer, as is often the case with these things, is “it depends”. If we can find ways to produce green hydrogen more efficiently and cheaply, and if we can develop infrastructure for its safe storage and transport, then yes, green hydrogen could play an important role in our energy future. But until that happens, green hydrogen will remain more promise than reality, and a colorful source of confusion for the public.
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