While humankind suffers from the urgent requirement to minimize gases causing greenhouse effects, hydrogen can take its name as flexible energy in the clean regime. Hydrogen is an element that is becoming more of an emergent one in the universe and acts as a global driver in the fight against climate change.
This blog discusses the different categories of hydrogen, most importantly green hydrogen, to find out how it can be crucially utilized in offsetting climate change.
KINDS OF HYDROGEN
Hydrogen can be produced through a variety of ways, each having different environmental
impacts:
• Gray hydrogen, by the SMR method or steam methane reforming process, is manufactured from natural gas or methane. However, it has very significant releases of CO2, making it less ‘green’.
• Blue hydrogen is very similar to grey hydrogen, but it employs carbon capture and storage technology: the produced CO2 is captured and stored. This thus reduces its environmental footprint, though the procedure still rests on fossil fuels.
• Green hydrogen is obtained from water through electrolysis by using power developed from renewable sources like wind, sunlight, or hydropower. No greenhouse gas emission occurs in the process. It is thus the only feasible alternative.
HYDROGEN: A CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTION
Green hydrogen is created through the process of electrolysis in water (H2O) for its components—namely, hydrogen and oxygen—with renewable electricity. The process itself is free from emissions, with water vapor as the only resultant byproduct.
Probably the most promising thing with green hydrogen is the promise it brings to many areas where, up until now, emission reductions have been very difficult.
APPLICATIONS OF GREEN HYDROGEN:
Industrial use:
Green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in very highly CO2-emitting industries, such as steel, cement, and chemicals. For instance, it could replace coke as a reductant for steel production and thereby drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industry1.
Transportation:
These fuel cells can be used to power cars, buses, and trucks-also ships. Fuel cell electric vehicles emit nothing but water vapor, hence offering a clean alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles2.
Energy Storage:
When the demand for green hydrogen is low, excess production can store renewable energy. Later, this energy is converted back to electricity when demands are high for stability and reliability in the supply of energy3.
Power Generation:
Hydrogen can be applied in gas turbines for power generation; it also acts as a clean backup power source for various renewable systems.
THE NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN MISSION:
The National Green Hydrogen Mission has a few key objectives in view that are aimed at making the country a global hub for production, usage, and exports of green hydrogen. Reducing the Import Bill for Fossil Fuels: Fossil fuel imports will decrease by more than ₹1 lakh crore by 2030 and contribute to a reduction in the overall import bill5.
This is envisioned to be achieved through the origination of new industries and jobs within the green hydrogen sector. Environmental Dividend & Widespread adoption of green hydrogen can lower the level of GHG emissions and help India pursue its objectives on climate change.
CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
While green hydrogen holds immense promise, several challenges need to be addressed for its widespread adoption:
Price:
While the production price of green hydrogen is still markedly high at the moment as compared to grey or blue hydrogen, by 2030—with technological development and significant scale economies—the cost could be over 50% less than today.
Infrastructure:
The infrastructure regarding hydrogen production, storage, and distribution is in itself one big problem. Examples include pipelines, refueling stations, and storage facilities requiring investment.
Innovation In Technology:
The ongoing improvement required to derive increased efficiency from both the electrolyzes and hydrogen fuel cells; it should shift focus from R&D into a kind of feasible energy for green hydrogen.
Green Hydrogen for Climate Protection:
Green hydrogen is going to be able to help in almost all fields where greenhouse gas emissions are significant, to reduce the role of climate change.
Industrial carbonization:
Steel and cement are two major industries contributing to CO2 emissions. But it has the potential to be a reduction, going as high as a change from fossil fuel-based feedstocks to green hydrogen. Clean Transportation: The transportation sector is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emission. Hydrogen fuel cells, on the other hand, are cleaner than most traditional fuels, and therefore guarantee vehicle emission reduction.
Incorporation of Renewable Energy:
Green hydrogen will store excess renewable energy to ensure consistency, and this will avoid overreliance on fossil fuels.
Energy Security:
Green hydrogen could contribute to enhanced energy security, building in more resilience by diversifying the energy mix and reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.
CONCLUSION
Hydrogen, or more importantly green hydrogen, has the potential to redefine the very energy landscape and emerge as a new ally in its fight against climate change. Green hydrogen will open doors for the decarbonization of various industries, alternatives for clean transport, and integrate with variable renewable sources into a secure energy future.
The National Green Hydrogen Mission is, hence, a giant leap toward that very potential and places India amongst the leading nations driving the green hydrogen economy worldwide.
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