What role does hydrogen play in the energy transition?
What role does hydrogen play in the energy transition?
Hydrogen will be a key component of our energy infrastructure as communities shift away from carbon combustibles to reduce global GHG emissions.
What is hydrogen?
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. It also has several attributes that make it a great energy carrier. It is non-toxic, light, reactive, and does not emit any carbon dioxide upon combustion. All of these attributes make it an important tool in fueling a greener energy future.
How does hydrogen stack up against other energy sources?
Throughout history, we have burned fuel sources for energy. Of all the sources—from coal to petroleum to natural gas—hydrogen is the cleanest option because it releases no greenhouse gases during combustion.
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Three primary types of hydrogen are being used in the energy transition: blue, green, and turquoise hydrogen.
Methods of hydrogen production
Hydrogen can be used to reduce emissions related to industrial processes, such as crude refining or the production of ammonia, petrochemicals, cement, and steel.
Industry
Hydrogen can be used as a fuel source to drive down emissions related to heavy transportation, including heavy duty trucking, rail, and shipping vessels.
Heavy Transport
Hydrogen can be used as a fuel source to power mass transit operations—buses, trains, planes, and ferries—and decarbonize the public transportation sector.
Mass Transit
How can we use hydrogen to reduce emissions?
As the industry grows, hydrogen pipelines, or hydrogen enriched natural gas pipelines, will be the chosen mode for hydrogen distribution.
Distribution trailers/pipelines
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A storage system is required to buffer the production system with the end-user demands. Operational steadiness is necessary to help the industry grow.
Storage
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A compressor system is required to enable the storage of the produced hydrogen. This can be either above ground or below ground, though below ground is safer.
Compression
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This unit produces clean hydrogen by splitting the water molecule into its component parts, hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is exceptionally pure.
Electrolyzer
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Power is sourced from renewable production technologies and distributed to the hydrogen production site. The water needs to be conditioned for the electrolyzer to operate correctly and efficiently.
Power delivery and water treatment
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Hydrogen production can be added to our traditional power generation plants. But hydrogen is in a prime position to gain from renewable energy sources like wind and solar. There are five key components to each hydrogen facility.
Key components of a hydrogen production facility
RELATIVE GHG EMISSIONS PER ENERGY SOUCRE
coal
petroleum
natural gas
blue hydrogen
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Turquoise hydrogen is produced through methane pyrolysis, breaking down natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon. The hydrogen can be used as energy, and the carbon can be used to produce batteries and electric vehicles.
Blue hydrogen is produced using natural gas or other fossil fuels, but carbon dioxide emissions are captured and then stored or utilized, rather than being released into the atmosphere
Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy such as wind, solar, or hydropower-based electricity, and does not release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere
green hydrogen
Blue hydrogen is produced using natural gas or other fossil fuels, but carbon dioxide emissions are captured and then stored or utilized, rather than being released into the atmosphere
Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy such as wind, solar, or hydropower-based electricity, and does not release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere
This unit produces clean hydrogen by splitting the water molecule into its component parts, hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is exceptionally pure.
Electrolyzer
A compressor system is required to enable the storage of the produced hydrogen. This can be either above ground or below ground, though below ground is safer.
Compression
A storage system is required to buffer the production system with the end-user demands. Operational steadiness is necessary to help the industry grow.
Storage
As the industry grows, hydrogen pipelines, or hydrogen enriched natural gas pipelines, will be the chosen mode for hydrogen distribution.
Distribution trailers/pipelines
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