Green Hydrogen: A Promising Solution for Decarbonizing Heavy Industries

Introduction

Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energies, has emerged as one of the most promising possibilities for assisting in the decarbonization of sectors that depend less on electricity, bringing us one step closer to carbon neutrality.

To limit global warming to 1.5°C, all economic sectors, especially industrial, must stop the use of fossil fuels. To meet global agreements and attain carbon neutrality by 2050, a range of solutions will be required. Green hydrogen is one of these, and it will also help to decarbonize activities that are less dependent on power.

Green Hydrogen Production

Fossil fuels are a dependable energy source, powering energy generation and heavy industries and propelling modern civilization. However, their use has substantial downsides, including their role as a leading source of anthropogenic climate change. Clean, ecological alternatives are desperately needed.

Hydrogen is an energy carrier capable of storing and delivering massive amounts of energy, serving the needs of numerous sectors. Electricity, water, and heat are the sole byproducts of hydrogen consumption.

The majority of industrial hydrogen is produced from natural gas, which necessitates the extraction and exploitation of fossil fuels. This contradicts hydrogen’s environmental benefits as a clean energy solution. Next-generation electrolyzer technologies are now being researched to generate environmentally friendly, low-cost hydrogen.

Several companies are now involved in the development of technologies for utilizing green hydrogen in the heavy industry sector.

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Green hydrogen to decarbonize steel production

With the steel industry accounting for 7% of total CO2 emissions worldwide, there is a significant opportunity to achieve decarbonization and minimise its footprint.

One proposed approach is to inject hydrogen into blast furnaces where steel is manufactured, so replacing coke oven gas with a clean fuel (green hydrogen). This technology is currently being tested, and some limits remain, such as the cooling effect of the hydrogen inside the blast furnace.

 

Electric Hydrogen, a clean energy start-up established in the United States, is an example of a company that uses green hydrogen technology in the heavy industry sector. Electric Hydrogen is investing in green, low-cost hydrogen generation, addressing a fundamental issue with the use of hydrogen in heavy industry: its dependency on fossil fuels during synthesis and manufacturing.

The company is working on next-generation electrolyzer technology to generate ecologically benign, long-term hydrogen.

Heavy industry accounts for more than 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, posing considerable difficulties and potential for decarbonization and net zero emissions.

At this time, available technologies are incapable of mitigating these harmful emissions. As a result, a thorough system-wide energy shift across all industries is critical if the worst-case scenarios of climate change are to be avoided. 95% of all hydrogen produced today is derived from fossil sources.

The methodology of Electric Hydrogen reimagines present industrial systems at all levels, developing processes and technologies to be flexible, scalable, and simple to use.

Green Hydrogen to decarbonize refineries

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Refineries are used to turn crude oil into products that people may consume. This industry is responsible for 4% of global CO2 emissions and generates petrol, diesel, asphalt, kerosene, liquid petrol, oils and other fuels.

One of the primary applications of green hydrogen in this industry is as a substitute for fossil fuels and hydrogen in various processes now carried out in refineries and petrochemical facilities.

Another beneficial use in this industry is the development of sustainable fuels for heavy transportation, similar to those used in aviation and maritime transport.

Towards a Zero-Carbon Economy Using Low-Cost, Green Hydrogen

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While modern, heavy industry is a foundation of social, economic, and technological progress, the ecological cost of progress has become starkly visible in recent years as global temperatures rise, causing more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and accelerating biodiversity and ecosystem loss.

Climate change also has an impact on vulnerable communities in several countries. According to the UN, 1.2 billion people may become climate refugees by 2050, causing considerable social and economic turmoil as the globe attempts to adjust to its new normal.

Green hydrogen can meet heavy industry and transportation demands, which helps to overcome the problems caused by fossil fuel extraction.

It is difficult to reverse the impacts of industrial activity. Strategic collaborations between green, low-cost hydrogen technology businesses like Electric Hydrogen and important industrial players, on the other hand, will assist to make a sustainable, post-carbon economy and society a reality. The worst future effects of climate change could thereby be prevented.

Challenges for green hydrogen in decarbonizing the economy

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Although considerable work has to be done, the outlook is optimistic. At the recent COP26 UN Climate Conference, green hydrogen was highlighted in a series of promises aimed at lowering emissions. Hydrogen has been identified as an essential pillar in a net zero economy by both governments and business.

“Green hydrogen was mentioned in a series of commitments aimed at reducing emissions at COP26”

Across the globe, major programmes are underway to improve, develop, and extend green hydrogen production technology. ACCIONA Energa, for example, is leading the Power to Green Hydrogen Mallorca project, which aims to manufacture the first industrial renewable hydrogen in Spain.

The first green hydrogen molecules were produced in December 2021 at a facility on the island of Lloseta, with industrial production slated to begin in early 2022. It is expected to create at least 300 tonnes of the element per year and use it in various sectors on the island, including transportation, heating, energy for buildings, and so on.

However, the current cost of obtaining green hydrogen remains significantly greater than that of fossil fuels, owing to the fact that most green hydrogen initiatives are still in the early stages. However, dramatic cost reductions are expected over the next few years, making it more competitive than non-sustainable hydrogen as creative initiatives come to fruition and economies of scale are generated.

The development of the infrastructure required to store and deliver green hydrogen on a broad scale is another major barrier in generalising its use.

To summarise, there is still more work to be done, but green hydrogen is here to stay. Increased use will be critical in meeting, among other things, the Paris Agreement climate obligations and the climate emergency’s zero-emission targets.

Conclusion

Green hydrogen, which is produced using renewable energies, has emerged as a promising contender for decarbonizing sectors that are less reliant on electricity, such as the steel and refinery industries. Electric Hydrogen is an example of a company that is investing in environmentally friendly, low-cost hydrogen production and developing next-generation electrolyzer technologies to produce environmentally acceptable, long-term hydrogen for heavy industry. Green hydrogen will be critical in achieving global agreements and carbon neutrality by 2050. However, there are still obstacles to overcome, such as the construction of infrastructure required for large-scale storage and distribution of green hydrogen.

References

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