The Future of Hydrogen

Hydrogen has long been acknowledged as a viable source of clean energy, and recent technological advances have further reinforced this conviction. As a clean, efficient, and sustainable source of energy, hydrogen has the potential to play a significant role in the future of energy and transportation. As per the IEA’s 2022 global hydrogen review, the demand for hydrogen reached 94 million tonnes in 2021. This equaled 2.5% of global energy consumption indicating the importance of hydrogen in the global energy mix. Hydrogen is the odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that is the most abundant element on earth, constituting up to 75% of the elemental mass.

Types of hydrogen

Most commonly, three types of hydrogen can be found, grey, green, and blue. Grey hydrogen is the most prevalent kind of hydrogen generated, accounting for around 95% of global production. It is created by the steam methane reforming (SMR) method, which involves reacting natural gas with high-temperature steam in the presence of a catalyst to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide. However, Grey hydrogen contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions because carbon dioxide is usually discharged into the environment. However, these emissions are still fewer than those produced by brown or black hydrogen which use brown or black coal.

 Blue hydrogen is created in the same way as grey hydrogen, but with the addition of carbon capture and storage (CCS). Instead of being discharged into the environment, the carbon dioxide created during the SMR process is caught and stored, often in subterranean geological formations. Blue hydrogen is consequently regarded as a lower-emission option to grey hydrogen, although it continues to rely on fossil fuels.

Green hydrogen, often referred to as “clean hydrogen”, is created by using renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power, to power the electrolysis of water, which results in the production of hydrogen and oxygen. Green hydrogen is a zero-emissions energy source since the process generates only water as a byproduct. However, because of the  expense of renewable energy, it is now far more costly to generate than grey or blue hydrogen.

The current state of hydrogen technology

With nations all over the world now focusing on the global energy crisis and fighting the impact of climate change, hydrogen-based technology has been constantly evolving. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is a form of sustainable energy technology that generates electricity, heat, and water by combining hydrogen and oxygen. The only by-products are water vapor and heat. We can think of it as an energy converter. Fuel cell technology has many advantages over its traditional counterparts. Fuel cells do not produce any harmful emissions, are durable, and can be designed to be very compact. The transportation industry offers various potential uses for hydrogen fuel cell technology. Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), like battery electric cars, use fuel cells to create energy to power an electric motor. FCVs offer a greater range and quicker refueling times than battery electric cars, making them ideal for long-distance travel. Additionally, fuel cells may be utilized for power generation for huge facilities such as a power plant or something as small as a laptop. It may also be employed for emergency back-power backup. However, the costs of using this technology are quite high. Ample investment is needed in order to produce and distribute hydrogen, as well as for building the necessary infrastructure.

The future of hydrogen in the UAE

The UAE is aggressively investing in hydrogen as part of its attempts to diversify its energy mix and lessen  reliance on fossil fuels. It is expected to invest up to Dh600 Billion over the next 30 years. These countries have extensive solar and wind energy resources that may be utilized to generate green hydrogen. As part of its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the UAE has currently 28 hydrogen-based products, seven of which have already completed the financing stage. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE),  in particular the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, is home to the region’s first solar-powered green hydrogen plant, which was commissioned in May 2021 by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

Some other initiatives include plans by ADNOC, the country’s national energy company, to expand the UAE’s hydrogen production. The company is currently looking into both green and blue hydrogen production, with an emphasis on employing carbon capture and storage (CCS) to lower blue hydrogen’s carbon impact. UAE’s MASDAR also very recently signed an agreement with 4 companies from the Netherlands, with plans to explore the supply chain of green hydrogen between Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam.

An Exploration of the Advantages of Hydrogen as an Efficient and Sustainable Fuel Source

Hydrogen, as a fuel, has many benefits. The most obvious is its ability to provide clean energy without any emissions harmful to the environment. This makes it a very attractive alternative to fossil fuels such as coal, which are majorly contributing to climate change globally. Hydrogen is also a highly abundant renewable resource that can be found in water, natural gas, or biomass. This means that it is readily available and accessible. Hence, countries can produce it locally. By diversifying energy sources and minimizing dependency on fossil fuels, hydrogen as a fuel can improve energy security. However, countries willing to implement it must invest in specialized infrastructure. Furthermore, Hydrogen has a high energy density, which means it can store a lot of energy in a limited amount of volume. This makes it ideal for uses like transportation, where energy density is crucial for obtaining extended ranges. It emits 142 megajoules (MJ) of energy per kilogramme, whereas petrol emits just 46 MJ per kilogramme.

To put it simply, the future of hydrogen is promising, but much work has to be done by countries and governments all over the world. With significant investments in Research and Development, hydrogen has the potential to become a major source of renewable energy and alter the way we power our homes, companies, and transportation. As technology advances and costs fall, we may expect to see more examples of hydrogen being used in novel ways to build a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come.