How Hydrogen Can Be Put To Good Use In Different Sectors
The future of hydrogen as an environmentally friendly energy source
Credit: This article is based on the scientific article “Power-to-hydrogen and hydrogen-to-X energy systems for the industry of the future in Europe” by Matteo Genovese and colleagues. (Full citation and link available at the end of the article)
Greenhouse gas emissions are an often discussed topic among, for example, policymakers because they are causing all kinds of environmental problems. This is because greenhouse gases warm our planet up, which in turn causes for example extreme weather events to occur more regularly and biodiversity to be at risk (further reading: 3 Tragic Consequences of Global Warming on Ocean Biodiversity).
The most important greenhouse gas is currently carbon dioxide (CO2). It is less harmful than methane but as we emit so much of it by burning fossil fuels, it is critical to reduce these emissions. Many strategies have been developed and are being put into practice to reduce CO2 emissions (further reading: It’s Getting Hot: 19 Strategies That Can Help Our Planet To Cool Down). One of these strategies is using renewable energy sources to create fuel and electricity.
Well-known renewable energy sources are wind and solar energy (further reading: How Solar Energy Technology Is Becoming More Efficient). Another source that is more and more often considered is hydrogen. Hydrogen atoms (H+) are the simplest and lightest atoms on our planet. And although they are light, they make up 75% of all the weight in our universe because they are so abundant. Also, hydrogen atoms are an important component of other molecules, such as water (H2O) and hydrogen molecules (H2).
Many hydrogen molecules together make up an odorless and colorless gas, which is not toxic but flammable. This gas is a very flexible energy carrier and usually has a low or no environmental impact. The environmental impact depends on how hydrogen is produced:
- Green hydrogen is produced by sending electricity through water so that H2O molecules are split into H2 and O2 (oxygen) molecules. This electricity comes from leftover energy from renewable sources.
- Yellow hydrogen is the same as green hydrogen with the only difference being that solar power is used instead of surplus energy from renewable sources.
- Pink/red/purple hydrogen is the same as yellow hydrogen with the only difference being that nuclear energy is used instead of solar power.
- Blue hydrogen is produced by combining natural gas with heated water so that hydrogen is formed. The CO2 as a byproduct is captured and stored.
- Grey hydrogen is the same as blue hydrogen, apart from the carbon capture and storage being left out.
- Turquoise hydrogen is produced by decomposing methane (CH4) at very high temperatures into H2 and C (carbon).
- Black and brown hydrogen is produced by using black or brown coal. This is the most environmentally damaging way to produce hydrogen.
Currently, hydrogen is especially used in the chemical industry, mostly for oil refining and ammonia production. But it can be applied for many more purposes in different sectors. This is how:
Transportation sector
The first sector in which hydrogen can also be put to good use is the transportation sector. In the transportation sector, hydrogen can be used as fuel to power vehicles. Currently, hydrogen is already being used for different types of vehicles. For example, in Germany, the first hydrogen trains were started being used in 2022. In this video you can see what this looks like and how they work:
While the hydrogen for the train in this video is supplied by a truck, Germany also has many stationary hydrogen stations: already 86 hydrogen stations are operating and open to the general public. These stations can provide fuel for, for example, passenger cars, buses, and trucks. Further applications can be ships and airplanes. In this video, you can see how a hydrogen-fueled truck works:
When hydrogen replaces traditional gasoline and diesel engines, CO2 emissions during traveling are reduced. This is because the combustion of hydrogen does not result in any CO2. When hydrogen is used more consistently, this could reduce CO2 emissions by 19% in 2035 and around 60% in 2050.
Power generation sector
The second sector in which hydrogen can also be put to good use is the power generation sector. In the power generation sector, hydrogen can be used as a battery to store excess energy from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and wave energy (further reading: How Energy From Renewable Sources Can Be Stored). Excess energy is leftover energy when more energy is produced than used. As mentioned before, this is green hydrogen and can later be used to produce electricity when the opposite situation occurs: when more energy is used than produced.
For example, in Germany, 50% more renewable energy is produced during summer than winter. But the energy demand in winter is 30% higher than in summer. Storing energy in hydrogen can help close this gap.
Manufacturing and refining sector
The third sector in which hydrogen can also be put to good use is the manufacturing and refining sector. Manufacturing involves producing goods and refining involves removing impurities or unwanted elements from a substance, both at an industrial scale. Hydrogen is currently especially used when the energy demand for manufacturing and refining is high. For example, when producing steel and refining crude oil. In the future, hydrogen can also be used as fuel for less energy-demanding processes.
Also, the production of hydrogen itself can be improved. For example, when currently gray hydrogen is produced, these factories can be upgraded to produce blue hydrogen. This can be done by extending the installation so that CO2 is captured instead of sent into the atmosphere. This means that the production of hydrogen is decarbonized (further reading: How Companies Can Determine Their CO2 Reduction Strategy).
Agricultural sector
The fourth sector in which hydrogen can also be put to good use is the agricultural sector. This sector can both use hydrogen and contribute to its production.
Hydrogen can be used by farmers in many different ways, including:
- as fuel in times of energy shortage
- replacing propane to dry products such as potatoes, carrots, and onions
- making crops more stress resistant
- decreasing the need for fertilizer
- powering tractors, forklift trucks, lorries, and other vehicles
Also, farmers can contribute to the production of hydrogen by providing agricultural waste. This waste can be used for generating biofuels. These biofuels in turn can be used to produce hydrogen.
Conclusion
So, hydrogen can be put to good use in the transportation, power, manufacturing and refining, and agricultural sector, for example as fuel, battery, and for different agricultural practices.
How we can take action
Here are practical ideas of what you and I can do to support the future of hydrogen:
- Buying a hydrogen-fueled car
- Being an early adopter of other hydrogen-based products
- Supporting initiatives that focus on providing hydrogen infrastructure
- Raising awareness about hydrogen by sharing this article with family, friends, etc.
Which one of these can you implement in your daily life? And do you have further ideas of what you and I could do? Thank you in advance for putting them into practice and sharing them in a comment to this question to inspire all of us.
About the author
Dr. Erlijn van Genuchten is a an internationally recognized environmental sustainability expert. She is a science communicator, helpings scientists in the fields of nature and sustainability increase the outreach of their results and allowing us all to put scientific insights into practice and contribute to a sustainable future. Erlijn has inspired thousands of people around the world — for example — by supporting the United Nations with her expertise, her book “A Guide to A Healthier Planet” published by Springer Nature, and her posts on social media.
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