What is Green Hydrogen and why should we start using it.

What is Green Hydrogen?

Hydrogen that is produced from renewable energy sources is called Green Hydrogen.It has gained much importance in the global world and it is believed that the fuel can play a major role in decarbonizing sectors of the economy  that is hard-to-electrify  like aviation, long-haul trucking and heavy manufacturing.

 

How is Green Hydrogen Formed?  

 

Green Hydrogen is produced if renewable energy is used to produced electricity for the electrolysis of water. In this case, the hydrogen is produced without any harmful emission.

                                             

Distribution of Green Hydrogen

Hydrogen can be distributed in liquefied or compressed form or through a pipeline. Compressed or liquefied distribution can be done by both land and sea. The entire value chain is green starting from the production to the distribution of hydrogen.

Pricing of Green Hydrogen

In October 2020, a report published by Capgemini named “Net Zero 2020”. The report had declaration that at nearly € 6 per kg, green hydrogen is not competitive today with fossil energies.

·        Another such report named” The Renewable Hydrogen Coalition ” on green hydrogen showed the price estimated for green hydrogen to be  € 6/kg.

Green Hydrogen and the EU

Recent publications by European commission and declaration by various EU member States like Germany, Green Hydrogen is now prominent contrary to its position in the starting of the year.

Green, grey and blue Hydrogen

v  v  The grey Hydrogen is formed through fossil fuels such as coal and oil that emits CO2 into the air as their combust.

v  v  The grey Hydrogen is formed through fossil fuels such as coal and oil that emits CO2 into the air as their combust.

v  Blue Hydrogen is also produced in the same way but carbon capture technology prevents the release of CO2 in it’s case.

 

 

Grey and blue Hydrogen are produced using natural gas which attracts zero taxes.

   

However, the price green Hydrogen includes taxes and levies imposed on the feedstock which is almost double/quadruple the original price of the feedstock (renewable electricity). So, the comparison between Green and blue, grey Hydrogen is irrational.

Carbon Capture and Storage – CCS

Versions of steam methane reformation where the CO2 is captured and stored in a stable form elsewhere (Carbon Capture and Storage – CCS) has been proposed as a better alternative.  CCS may well be workable, however there are doubts around our ability to manage and finance the storage of captured carbon through future decades and probably centuries or even millennia.  Unfortunately we don’t have a good track record for managing the massive captured carbon deposits we’ve inherited.