Digital MagazinePowerYear 2021

Big Future for Green Hydrogen

Big-Future-for-Green-Hydrogen

Green hydrogen accounts for only 1% of the total hydrogen supply and is primarily a by-product of chlorine production through electrolysis using renewable electricity.

DOLF GIELEN – IRENA

By Dolf Gielen, Director Innovation and Technology, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Addressing climate change has become an overriding driver for the energy transition. More and more countries are setting objectives for achieving net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century, but the strategies designed to get us there remain subject to intense debate.

((( Read more of our articles’ content, here )))

Pushing green hydrogen to embrace the energy transition

Clearly, renewable electricity has a vital role to play, driven by the falling cost of renewable power generation. Electromobility and other forms of electrification, combined with increased renewable power generation, can further reduce emissions. But attention is now focusing on the remaining emissions in building heating, transport, and energy-intensive industries. This is where hydrogen can be a potential gamechanger for accelerating global energy transitions worldwide.

Hydrogen production from natural gas and coal is a substantial source of CO2 emissions. This “grey” hydrogen accounts for about 98% of all hydrogen production today. However, clean, either “blue” or “green” hydrogen can replace it.

Blue hydrogen is also a product of fossil fuels, but in this case, systems capture and store the CO2 emissions. Green hydrogen, on the other hand, is made from water electrolysis using renewable electricity. Tremendous momentum exists, with over 200 hydrogen projects announced across the world. Also, with more than USD 300 billion in investments planned through 2030..

High ambitions

However, Green hydrogen accounts for only 1% of the total hydrogen supply. Besides, it is primarily a by-product of chlorine production through electrolysis using renewable electricity. Dedicated green hydrogen production is even less, representing around 0.04% of the global output.

Nevertheless, high ambitions exist to upscale green hydrogen production. The private sector “Catapult initiative” aims to achieve 25 GW of electrolyzer capacity by 2026, up from 0.3 GW today. The total project pipeline for electrolyzers in the coming decade is in the 60-80 GW range.

In fact, the reason for this optimism is that renewable hydrogen could break even on costs. For instance, with gray hydrogen before 2030 in optimal regions.

The cost of green hydrogen has mainly two components: the renewable electricity price and the electrolyzer’s cost. Recent IRENA analysis suggests a significant cost reduction potential for electrolyzers to 200-400 USD/kW within the next ten years. Particularly, based on optimization of materials choice, re-design, and economies of scale in electrolyzer manufacturing. A combination of low-cost renewable power and low-cost electrolyzers can yield green hydrogen at 1.5 USD/kg. Yet supporting policies will be necessary to “buy down” green hydrogen.

A deeper outlook

Even at 1.5 USD per kilogram, green hydrogen is premium fuel. For instance, translating to 12 USD per one thousand British thermal units (MBTU); compared to 2-4 USD/MBTU for natural gas in the United States. This price gap translates into an economic value of avoided climate damage of more than 100 USD per every tone of CO2.

While low-cost natural gas might favor blue hydrogen, concerns remain, however, regarding the upstream methane emissions. Also, on the CO2 storage efficiency. Existing blue hydrogen projects are cases where CO2 is then the base for enhanced oil recovery. No systems are yet in place to monitor the fate of underground CO2 and potential leakages. Blue hydrogen projects will need to prove their carbon neutrality and still withstand scrutiny.

The latest IRENA scenarios assume one-third blue and two-thirds green hydrogen by 2050. The total hydrogen volume may increase two to five-fold. Notably, depending on climate ambition levels in line with the Paris Agreement of well below two towards 1.5-degrees.

A path towards decarbonization

Moving forward, hydrogen-based commodities such as green ammonia, renewable methanol, and direct reduced iron may gain prominence. At the same time, hydrogen can complement or even replace natural gas in pipeline systems; thus enabling carbon mitigation in buildings and industrial heating systems. Several pilot projects are currently under development in Europe, for example.

While hydrogen may not be a low-cost option for decarbonization, its role in combination with low-carbon technologies in global decarbonization is evident; particularly in industry, heating, and heavy-duty transport. Thus, Green hydrogen represents a paradigm shift that may affect future natural gas prospects. in brief, The impact on the United States energy sector may be profound.

Therefore, what we need is an enabling framework and enhanced International cooperation that facilitate a sustainable energy transition. Accordingly, IRENA’s Collaborative Framework for Green Hydrogen was established to accelerate this transition globally. Around 65 countries and private sector key players such as the Hydrogen Council regularly engage on our platform. Finally, standards and certification for green hydrogen are topics that have been identified and are currently being elaborated on

Related posts

Longroad Energy begins construction of 4 solar projects in Maine

editor

Largest battery storage unit in New Hampshire completed by NHEC and ENGIE

editor

Orsted, Eversource, and Dominion Energy partner to develop 1st US-flagged offshore wind turbine installation vessel

editor