"You can use lower carbon hydrogen for hard-to-abate sectors. The key right now is driving demand and making sure that hydrogen is available, reliably low cost and safe."
Over time, the world’s need for energy transition becomes increasingly urgent. To solve climate challenges, humans must collaborate to develop strategies and welcome climate technologies to deliver secure and sustainable energy. Further, it must also be affordable to avoid energy inequality. In recent years, hydrogen has emerged as an innovative and flexible energy source and enabler of decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors, such as heavy-duty transportation and chemical production. The concept of a hydrogen economy involves creating an ecosystem where hydrogen is produced, stored, distributed, and used across multiple sectors. This collaboration can promote circular economy models where energy consumers can efficiently utilise the energy they need in an environmentally sensitive way with the minimisation across the entire value chain. The ultimate objective is to expedite low-carbon deployment towards Net Zero goals.
Hydrogen, as a fuel, may seem very futuristic. However, the future is here, as hydrogen fuel cells are used in various types of vehicles, including cars, buses, trucks, and trains. For instance, Toyota’s Mirai and Hyundai’s Nexo are hydrogen-powered cars that emit only water vapor.
Nurturing collaboration to support the Hydrogen circular economy
However, there need to be initiatives to support and nurture collaboration, which will involve every part of the hydrogen circular economy. These initiatives come from diverse sources, from finance right through to sustainable adoption, enabling growth across the entire hydrogen value chain. Fortunately, Gastech’s Hydrogen Exhibition and Conference, to be held in Houston on 17th – 19th September, will offer an impactful medium to drive collaboration, necessary action and investment to support the hydrogen circular economy.
Collaboration takes many forms, such as architecting policy frameworks as they evolve to meet the needs of the hydrogen economy. As with many other arenas, the hydrogen circular economy will need finance, and Gastech offers a nexus of organisations and investors to meet and discuss opportunities to collaborate to meet the world’s needs and Net Zero ambitions.
To meet this need, the Gastech Hydrogen Hub and the Start-up Zone offer opportunities for energy innovators, investors, and professionals to network to identify innovative market strategies and pursue new avenues for project finance. Collaboration and networking opportunities are available for energy innovators and professionals to explore the potential of hydrogen. Delegates will have the opportunity to network with these organisations and become part of the story of the expansion and viability of the global hydrogen economy.
Why Hydrogen?
Hydrogen is a versatile solution for reducing emissions and decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors. It can be used as a fuel, feedstock, and energy carrier across various industries. Integrating hydrogen into the energy mix allows for a transition to more sustainable practices while meeting environmental targets.
Hydrogen fuel is categorised by different “colours” based on the methods used to produce it. Among the various colours of hydrogen, green hydrogen offers the most significant opportunity for decarbonisation. Producers create green hydrogen using renewable energy sources like wind or solar power to electrolyse water, resulting in zero carbon emissions. As you can see from the table below, each colour represents a different method of production, resulting in varying degrees of environmental impact.
Green hydrogen can substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to a sustainable, low-carbon future. It is useful to note that there are concerns about hydrogen, but it is important to be clear on which version of hydrogen production is being discussed.
What is the role of hydrogen as an energy source and enabler of decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors?
The term “hard to abate” refers to an industry sector that is particularly challenging in decarbonising or reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As manufacturing processes are so varied, numerous challenges present obstacles to decarbonising. Some examples include a dependency on dense and reliable energy sources, particularly for high-temperature processes or specific chemical reactions. Hard-to-abate sectors typically require energy-dense fuels or involve processes that inherently produce carbon dioxide as a byproduct. When burned or used in fuel cells, hydrogen produces only water as a byproduct, making it a zero-emission fuel option. Hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in applications where electrification is difficult or impossible, but it often needs significant technological innovation, infrastructure modifications, and large-scale investments.
Challenges in Hard-to-Abate Sectors for a Hydrogen Circular Economy
Humans use products and services based on hard-to-abate sectors every day, and the ubiquity means it is hard for us to see the impact clearly on an individual and wider level. It is complicated to transitioning some sectors to low-carbon alternatives, and here are some examples of the challenges involved in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors.
Our lives depend on transportation, such as aviation and shipping, which rely on energy-dense fuels, such as kerosene and fuel oil. Scientists are exploring sustainable aviation fuels and hydrogen as alternatives. Battery technology is insufficient for long-distance travel. Synthetic fuels or ammonia can power aircraft and ships with reduced emissions, but are not widely available or economically viable at scale yet.
Cement and steel production are significant sources of CO2 emissions. Replacing traditional methods with low-carbon alternatives, such as using hydrogen for steel production, can significantly reduce emissions. However, scaling up these technologies globally poses a substantial challenge.
Humans love plastic and we are surrounded by it. Research by Yale has shown that it is even in our bodies! The chemical industry involves carbon-intensive processes that require large amounts of energy. These manufacturing processes include the production of common chemicals used in everyday products such as plastics, fertilisers, and other petrochemical products. Decarbonising this sector involves developing new catalysts, chemical processes, and alternative feedstocks, which are technologically and economically challenging.
Hydrogen as an energy source and enabler of decarbonisation
For a hydrogen circular economy, hydrogen plays a role as both an energy source and an enabler of decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors. These sectors, including steel production, cement manufacturing, chemicals, aviation, and shipping, are challenging to decarbonise due to their reliance on high-temperature processes, specific chemical reactions, and dense energy needs. Hydrogen offers a flexible solution to these challenges as an alternative fuel source, feedstock to support chemical production or medium for energy storage. Producers can combine hydrogen with captured CO₂ to produce methanol, ammonia, and other chemicals, thus lowering the overall carbon footprint. Hydrogen is an effective medium for storing energy, particularly from intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar. Producers can generate surplus electricity during periods of high renewable output to produce hydrogen via electrolysis, which can then be stored and later converted back into electricity or used in other applications.
Hydrogen as an enabler to circumvent battery shortages
As the world continues encountering battery shortages, hydrogen fuel cells can offer a zero-emission alternative to traditional fossil fuels. According to a recent study by the IEA and McKinsey and Company, there is significant pressure on the supply chain due to the rapid growth in demand for batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, due to innovations in sectors such as electric vehicles. As a result, materials such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel are in increasing demand, and batteries are in short supply. Without reliable power supplies, the sustainable growth of sectors reliant on batteries, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, will be adversely impacted.
Much of the battery supply chain, including manufacturing and material processing, is concentrated in certain regions, particularly Asia. This geographical concentration can lead to supply disruptions, especially if trade tensions or logistical challenges exist. Hydrogen can enhance energy security by reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. Countries can produce hydrogen domestically from various resources, contributing to a more resilient energy system.
Hydrogen circular economy and your next steps
Hydrogen is both an energy source and an enabler of decarbonisation in offering a versatile solution to some of the biggest challenges in energy security and sustainability. By integrating hydrogen into the energy mix, we can reduce carbon emissions, enhance energy resilience, and move towards a more sustainable future.
Hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy industry and long-haul transportation. Hydrogen can store excess renewable energy, which can be converted back to electricity when needed.
Hydrogen is important for the future because it addresses several key challenges in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. With advancements in production technologies, hydrogen can be produced at scale, potentially lowering costs and increasing accessibility.
Green hydrogen, in particular, supports sustainability by providing a clean energy source with no direct carbon emissions. As production technologies advance and costs decrease, hydrogen can play a crucial role in the transition to a low-carbon economy as a source and an enabler.
To play a part in the hydrogen circular economy, get involved at Gastech’s Hydrogen Hub and you can read more over at the Gastech Hydrogen Hub website to register and participate.
