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Hydrogen is increasingly being seen as a key tool in securing a low-carbon future. But how it’s produced matters – from blue to grey and green to pink, there are different types of hydrogen production methods each with their own pros and cons.
Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, which uses electricity from renewable sources such as solar or wind energy.
Pink hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, which uses electricity from nucleair power.
Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas with CCS technology, while
grey hydrogen is produced from electricity produced by coal or other fossil fuels without CCS technology.
The use of green hydrogen could play a vital role in reaching net zero by 2050. It is the most efficient way to produce clean energy, as it emits no carbon dioxide when burned and does not require the burning of fossil fuels. Blue hydrogen production requires more energy and has more associated emissions than green hydrogen.
The potential for green hydrogen production is immense, but it can be difficult to scale up production due to the costs associated with the electrolysis process. To reduce these costs, researchers are exploring ways to improve efficiency and reduce the need for expensive infrastructure such as storage tanks and pipelines.
Blue hydrogen production also has a lot of potential. It is a low-carbon product that could be enabled by CCS retrofits to existing fossil-based hydrogen production plants. This could help bridge the gap between traditional fossil fuels and renewable energy sources while also providing a new product for oil and gas companies.
Pink hydrogen is a form of low-carbon energy produced through nuclear power. It is distinct from blue and grey forms of hydrogen which that it is produced with near zero emissions. However it does have all the challenges associated with nucleair power production.
The Role of Hydrogen in Decarbonising Industrial Sectors
The potential for green hydrogen production is immense, but there are still hurdles that need to be overcome in order to make it cost-effective. Blue hydrogen could also help bridge the gap between traditional fossil fuels and renewable energy sources while also providing a new product for oil and gas companies. But there are still concerns about how it will impact the shift towards green hydrogen further down the line.
Graeme Sweeney, chairman of the Zero Emissions Platform (ZEP), believes that the production of early, large-scale quantities of low-carbon hydrogen from natural gas with CCS will be essential for a decarbonised industrial sector. He argues that blue hydrogen will play an important role in transitioning away from fossil fuels but cautions that there is no guarantee this will lead to green hydrogen further down the line.
The Cost of Green Hydrogen
The cost of green hydrogen production is currently high due to the need for expensive infrastructure such as storage tanks and pipelines, as well as the amount of energy required for electrolysis. Researchers are working on ways to reduce these costs by improving efficiency and finding alternative methods of producing renewable energy.
In addition, governments around the world are investing heavily in research into green hydrogen production as well as creating incentives to encourage its adoption. For example, the European Union has set aside over 1 billion euros in funding for research into green hydrogen technologies.
The Future of Hydrogen
Hydrogen has great potential as an alternative source of clean energy that can be used for industrial processes. However, there are still several challenges that need to be overcome before it can become a viable option for decarbonising energy systems. The different colors of hydrogen each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it remains to be seen which one will emerge as the most efficient way to produce clean energy in the future.
Regardless of which color of hydrogen proves to be most efficient in terms of cost and emissions, it is clear that investment in research into green hydrogen technologies must continue if we are to reach net zero by 2050.
