Low-carbon hydrogen is used in many sectors, with various benefits and challenges; one of the best candidates for sustainability.
Here’s an article from Bellona that speaks about how Hydrogen can be a weapon in the fight against climate change.
According to the article,
The benefits of having green hydrogen as a fuel in industries are:
- Zero-emission fuel for cleaner air and planet.
- Domestic production from renewables like solar & wind.
- Job creation and innovation through new technologies.
The challenges that we will face in the transition to low-carbon hydrogen are:
- Clean production: Scaling up renewable hydrogen sources.
- Infrastructure: Building transport and storage networks.
- Cost: Currently higher than traditional fuels, but decreasing.
To effectively integrate hydrogen as a fuel, here are some key sectors and applications:
- Steel Production: Hydrogen can be used to reduce the carbon footprint of steel production by replacing fossil fuels in the process. This can lead to significant emission reductions, especially if renewable hydrogen is used.
- Chemical Sector: Hydrogen is used extensively in the chemical sector, particularly for ammonia production. Decarbonizing this process can lead to substantial emission reductions. Additionally, hydrogen can be used in other chemical processes, such as methanol and polyurethane production.
- Transportation: Hydrogen can be used as a clean energy vector for transportation, particularly in heavy-duty applications like long-distance trucking, shipping, and aviation. This can significantly reduce emissions in these sectors.
- Industrial Processes: Hydrogen can be used in various industrial processes, such as refining, metalworking, and glass production, to reduce emissions and improve efficiency.
- Food and Packaging: Hydrogen is used in food production and packaging to enhance product consistency and shelf life. This application can also contribute to emission reductions.
- Waste and Water Treatment: Hydrogen can be produced locally using renewable energy sources and used as a clean fuel for waste collection trucks and other applications, promoting a circular economy.
These sectors are critical for achieving significant emission reductions and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.
Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:
Hydrogen Furnaces Tackle Climate Change – Green Energy Revolution: DOE report examines hydrogen furnaces as a solution for reducing industrial heat emissions, emphasizing clean heat benefits and blending with natural gas.