EXECUTIVE INSIGHT
“ Green hydrogen is playing a prominent role in conversations about how we can achieve net zero emissions ”
are prioritised . As a result of this , coupled with the inefficiencies and expense of producing green hydrogen , its supply should be limited to sectors with no other feasible alternative to decarbonise .
When it comes to the need for green hydrogen , shipping and aviation currently sit alongside other hardto-abate industries such as the steel , chemicals and concrete sectors . While recognising the use of green hydrogen for other sectors such as steel , chemicals and concrete is currently critical , both shipping and aviation are truly international sectors . Operating at sea and in the air , other energy options such as accessing grid electrification are simply not possible for the maritime and aviation sectors . As such , the two industries should be placed at the top of the ladder as they have no real alternative option when it comes to decarbonisation .
Q . WHY IS THERE SUCH A FOCUS ON GREEN HYDROGEN CURRENTLY AND HOW CAN IT PLAY A ROLE IN TOMORROW ’ S ENERGY MIX ? CAN YOU TALK ABOUT ITS POSITIVES OVER OTHER ENERGY SOURCES ?
» Pressure is rising to significantly reduce our global emissions if we are to reach the targets set out in the Paris Agreement . Following the further commitment made at COP28 to move away from fossil fuels , green hydrogen is playing a prominent role in conversations about how we can achieve net zero emissions in the years and decades to come . Political attention and policy are increasingly being turned towards ‘ e-fuels ’ – in particular green hydrogen – and the critical role they can play in transitioning hard to abate sectors from fossil fuels . The reason there is such a keen focus on green hydrogen as a decarbonisation solution is because it does not emit polluting gases either during combustion or during production .
Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis , whereby an electrical current is used to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen . The electrolysis process is powered by renewable sources such as wind or solar . The oxygen by-product of this process can safely be released back into the atmosphere with no negative impact , while the hydrogen can then be stored , transported and used as a feedstock in industry , transportation , heating fuel or generating electricity in various applications . This makes green hydrogen one of the cleanest energy options as it is generated from renewable energy sources without CO2 as a by-product . As well as being used directly , green hydrogen can be converted into green methanol , green ammonia and e-kerosene making it easier to transport and use as a fuel .
20 June 2024