As a possible solution, hydrogen from electrolysis could be used to help achieve a carbon-free future. Because of its clean-burning properties, it does not produce any carbon-dioxide and could replace fossil fuels like natural gasoline.
Hydrogen will likely play a bigger role in helping key sectors of global economic decarbonisation in the near future. Before we examine the various ways hydrogen could be used in future, let us first consider the challenges presented by hydrogen electronlysis.
What are the biggest challenges to hydrogen electrolysis
Hydrogen, although it is the most abundant element known in the universe and the most common on Earth, can be hard to find in large quantities. Electrolysis of water is a way to extract hydrogen.
Actually, electrolysis has been used to produce hydrogen for more than two centuries. NASA used hydrogen gases in their fuel cell in the 1960s.
The price of electricity has been the biggest obstacle in hydrogen production. It is necessary to perform electrolysis to produce hydrogen, but it was impossible to do so on a large enough scale because of the prohibitively high electricity costs.
Due to the high energy costs of electrolysis and the inefficient nature of electrolysis’ hydrogen production, it is one less popular method for hydrogen production. Currently, less hydrogen is produced through water electrolysis.
High fossil fuel prices may have been responsible for the high price of electricity. However, fuel costs have fallen in recent years, making it more feasible to make hydrogen through electrolysis. Future hydrogen investment is expected skyrocket because of this.
Making hydrogen electrolysis more sustainable in the future
Hydrogen elution from renewable sources
Some companies are exploring the possibility of making hydrogen using electrolysis that uses electricity from renewable sources. This “green” way to produce hydrogen is crucial in a decarbonised future because renewables have lower carbon footprints than fossil fuels.
Because of their high costs, renewables have been considered unsuitable in the past. For the past two centuries, prices for renewable energy sources like sun and wind have been decreasing steadily. If this trend continues into future, it will soon become possible to produce hydrogen cleanly at a significantly higher scale.
Making hydrogen electrolysis more efficient
Researchers have also been trying to optimize the electrolysis process. The electrolysis process uses an electric current to create hydrogen at the electrode. This energy conversion process, however, has an efficiency around 65 to 85%.
Researchers aim to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production by understanding and optimising electrolysis processes.
The current process is slow because hydrogen bubbles made by electrolysis reattached to the electrode that produced them. Scientists have been able to develop a “microbubble mat” that will prevent the electric forces from pulling the bubbles back to an electrode. This will allow the gas rise and be collected.
Lower electrodes for the future
Green hydrogen’s high production costs can be partially attributed to the high cost for the electrodes needed. Experts believe China could lower green hydrogen’s cost by producing more accessible electrodes.
How will green hydrogen be used in the future
Many industries use hydrogen already. Numerous companies know how to use and store hydrogen. It is used most commonly to refine crude oil, produce ammonia, hydrogen, and steel.
However, some resources believe that hydrogen could be an emission-free fuel and power larger vehicles such trucks, buses, and planes.
Its production is the biggest problem that prevents “greener” hydrogen from becoming mainstream. Production of green hydrogen currently costs between $6.80/kg (and $2.50/kg) but this could go down to $1.40/kg in the coming decade.
This change should increase investment opportunities soon as it will make the green fuel source competive with conventional fuels.
Replacing fossilfuel power plants by hydrogen ones
Some cities might also consider making significant changes towards green hydrogen. Los Angeles recently said that it will retire its coal-fired energy plant and replace it in 2025 with a new gas-fired facility. The plant will temporarily operate on natural gas but will soon be exclusively powered by green hydrogen.
This change will be significant and increase the interest in hydrogen investing if it is successful.
Setting climate goals
In helping different countries reach their carbon emission reduction goals, green hydrogen will be an important part of the solution. Los Angeles is currently converting its power plant to generate 100 percent of renewable energy.
If this plant is a success, other cities may follow suit. This may result in more companies seeking hydrogen investment opportunities.
Many have drawn parallels in between green hydrogen’s adoption as well as the history of renewable energy adoption. Renewable energy sources such a solar and wind weren’t feasible decades ago because of their high costs.
However, these renewable energy sources were eventually cheaper and more people have adopted them over the past ten years. As green hydrogen is touted as a key ingredient in a decarbonised world, one can only hope it follows the same trend.
