ENTERPRISE DX
From enthusiastic startups to multinational majors , the world is in the grip of a hydrogen frenzy . The pressures to deliver net-zero targets and reverse decades of fossil fuel carbon consumption mean we have to quickly embrace a raft of renewable energies – and hydrogen is set to play a pivotal role in the new energy era .
In a paper exploring the role of hydrogen in the energy transition for The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies , Adam Hawkes , from the Sustainable Gas Institute at Imperial College , London , writes that the weight of evidence suggests that hydrogen has “ a fighting chance ” at a role in future energy systems .
“ The features of hydrogen , particularly its potential for long-duration storage and transportability , make it a solid zeroemissions partner to variable renewable energy ,” he writes . “ Hydrogen would likely have on-tap availability to serve peak demands , and the related supply chain can both consume and produce electricity , heat , motive power , and other services to complement zero and net-negative carbon electricity systems .”
The paper concludes that , while technology has reached a point where many hydrogen solutions are commercially viable , current barriers to widespread adoption are primarily due to a lack of infrastructure in the case of transport applications and cost competitiveness in the case of power and industry . New efforts are undertaken globally to remove these barriers through targeted policy support and to scale up activities .
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