Low-Carbon Hydrogen: A Key Piece for a Just Energy Transition

Many countries have announced hydrogen promotion strategies to achieve net zero CO2 emissions around 2050. The cost of producing low-carbon (green and blue) hydrogen has been projected to fall considerably as production is scaled up, although more so for green hydrogen than for blue hydrogen. This article uses a global computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to explore whether the cost reduction of green and blue hydrogen production can mitigate the use of fossil fuels and related carbon emissions. The results show that cost reduction can raise low-carbon hydrogen consumption markedly in relative terms but marginally in absolute terms, resulting in a modest decrease in fossil fuel use and related carbon emissions. The cost reduction of low-carbon hydrogen slightly lowers the use of coal and gas but marginally increases the use of oil. If regional CO2 taxes are introduced the increase in green hydrogen production is considerably larger than in the case of low-carbon hydrogen cost reduction alone. However, if cost reduction in low-carbon hydrogen is introduced in addition to the CO2 tax the emissions from fossil fuels are only marginally reduced. Hence, synergy effects between the two measures on emissions are practically absent. A low-carbon hydrogen cost reduction alone is effective but insufficient to have a substantial climate impact. This study also calls for modeling development to capture special user preferences for low-carbon hydrogen related to climate mitigation when phasing in new energy carriers like hydrogen.

Evaluation of Green and Blue Hydrogen Production Potential in Saudi Arabia

Hydrogen farm concept: A Perspective for Turkey

The transition to sustainable energy is vital for reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. This study provides a quantitative analysis to forecast the viability timeline of green hydrogen as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels for captive industrial power generation in India, aiming to reduce Scope 1 emissions and support net-zero targets. Green hydrogen, produced via electrolysis using renewable energy, offers a zero-emission substitute to natural gas. However, high production costs, infrastructure limitations, and technological challenges hinder widespread adoption. This research applies Value Web and techno-economic analyses to evaluate current and projected costs of green hydrogen, technological advancements, and infrastructure scalability. Using data from industry reports, policy documents, and academic studies, the paper models cost-reduction scenarios in green hydrogen production and electrolysis efficiency. It determines the Levelised Cost of Green Hydrogen (LCOH) and assesses transport costs to industrial sites. Further, it examines onsite captive power generation to calculate the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) from green hydrogen, comparing it to grid electricity over time. Sensitivity analyses explore the effects of carbon tax and discount rate changes on green hydrogen’s competitiveness. Findings indicate that green hydrogen could reach cost parity with grid power for industrial use by 2032 without policy incentives. With favourable government policies and sustained technological progress, this parity could be achieved earlier. The study highlights the strategic role of green hydrogen in India’s energy transition, emphasizing the importance of investment in renewable energy infrastructure and supportive policies. It offers valuable insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers into the challenges and opportunities of adopting green hydrogen for industrial power, contributing to national and global climate goals. Major Findings: Green hydrogen for 24x7 captive power generation in India could become viable by 2032, particularly in coastal states, like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, that are rich in renewable energy. A carbon tax of $100/ton CO₂ could accelerate adoption by another couple of years, with financing and discount rates playing a crucial role in cost competitiveness. Government incentives like import duty waivers and Production-Linked Incentives (PLI) can further boost market adoption of Green Hydrogen. While Green Hydrogen competes with natural gas, advancements in carbon capture technologies could enable carbon-neutral power generation from natural gas. The choice between Green Hydrogen and carbon capture investments will depend on market dynamics and natural gas availability.

High-pressure PEM water electrolyser: A review on challenges and mitigation strategies towards green and low-cost hydrogen production

Green hydrogen production and potential evaluation via chemical looping reforming of pyrolytic volatiles from reed

Green and blue hydrogen are two types of hydrogen generated from renewable energy sources and fossil fuels, respectively. Green hydrogen is created by splitting water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen using renewable energy sources such as wind, solar or nuclear power in a process known as electrolysis. Blue hydrogen, on the other hand, is produced by reforming natural gas and capturing and storing the resulting carbon emissions. The production of both green and blue hydrogen has implications for the environment, and a life cycle assessment (LCA) can be used to evaluate the environmental impacts of hydrogen production and use. An LCA considers the entire life cycle of a product, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal and assesses the potential environmental impacts at each stage. The LCA of green hydrogen production generally shows a lower environmental impact compared to blue hydrogen production. This is because green hydrogen production does not emit any carbon emissions during the process, whereas blue hydrogen production still results in the emission of carbon dioxide. However, the environmental impact of green hydrogen production can vary depending on the source of the renewable energy used for electrolysis.

Green hydrogen, a versatile and sustainable energy carrier, has garnered increasing attention as a critical element in the global transition to a low-carbon economy. This review article comprehensively examines the production, applications, and potential of green hydrogen, accompanied by the challenges and future prospects associated with its widespread adoption. The production of green hydrogen is a central focus, due to its environmental benefits and distinctive characteristics. The article delves into the various techniques and technologies employed in green hydrogen production, emphasizing the need for cost reduction and increased scale for economic viability. Focusing particularly on applications, the review discusses the diverse sectors where green hydrogen demonstrates immense promise. Challenges and limitations are explored, including the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources, high production costs, and the need for extensive hydrogen infrastructure. The article also highlights the pressing need for innovation in electrolysis technology and materials, emphasizing the potential for cost reduction and increased efficiency. As industries gradually transition to green hydrogen as a cleaner feedstock, its demand and cost-competitiveness are projected to increase. This review article thoroughly evaluates the current status of green hydrogen and provides valuable insights into its potential role in the transition to a sustainable energy system.

Green Hydrogen is widely acknowledged as one of the important pillars for decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors and to transition the global economy to Net Zero. The current priority in the energy sector is to rapidly establish and scale a green Hydrogen based energy value chain that meets three core objectives: affordability, sustainability and security of supply, also referred to as ‘Energy Trinity’. Green hydrogen is produced from electrolysis of fresh water through technologies such as alkaline electrolyser, PEM (proton exchange membrane), and SOEC (solid oxide electrolyser). The production of green hydrogen from water is an energy intensive process, due to the high thermodynamic stability of water molecules. The cost of producing green hydrogen at scale is large proportional to the cost of renewable electricity. This requires green hydrogen production basins to be located close to regions/ geographies with access to surplus and low-cost renewable electricity, such as Australia, Middle East, Norway, Scotland and Chile. The current cost of green hydrogen in the UK has a 5-10 times cost premium as compared to fossil fuels. The primary inputs from green hydrogen production through electrolysis technologies are renewable electricity and freshwater. There has been an increasing concern globally on the availability and preservation of water resources. There are publications from water companies in the UK citing that the supply of constant fresh water supply for industrial applications such as green hydrogen production cannot be guaranteed under rapidly changing scenarios of climate change. There is a potential to set up large scale desalination plants to meet the fresh water for hydrogen production, however the large quantities of discharge water with high brine concentration might pose environmental hazards to marine habitat. This calls for alternate technologies to be developed which addresses the freshwater dependence for green hydrogen production and the significant green premium on cost structure. The paper describes a novel biocatalysis approach for production of green Hydrogen from wastewater, without requiring electricity input.

The article is an experimental and simulation-based research on the feasibility of green hydrogen (GNH) production by a hybrid solar – wind energy system in Nasiriyah, Iraq a site with high solar irradiance and moderate wind potential. Motivated by the global transition to low-carbon energy systems, the study addresses the issue of sustainable hydrogen production in off-grid areas. The hybrid system comprises photovoltaic (PV) panels, a wind turbine (WT), a battery bank, and a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer. Real-time environmental and system data were monitored over a full year and evaluated by Python-based simulations to calculate hourly energy availability, hydrogen production, and system efficiency. The system produced 468 kWh of electricity annually, with 321 kWh being used by the electrolyzer to generate approximately 135 liters of hydrogen gas, consuming 86 liters of water. Seasonal variation showed solar energy as the principal source (31%) compared to wind (1.5%), especially during summer. The 68.66% hydrogen conversion efficiency was obtained. The research is innovative in its integration of experimental data and simulation to model real-world, low-cost deployment of hybrid systems in desert environments. The outcomes are directly applicable to pilot-scale projects and rural energy systems in regions of similar environmental profiles and offer a path forward for scalable and decentralized green hydrogen production.

The rapid progression of digitalization, decarbonisation, and democratisation within the energy system is accelerating the energy transition. To expedite this progress and achieve the Paris Agreement’s net-zero objectives in India, there is a requisite need to enhance existing infrastructure and expand innovative technologies, such as green hydrogen production. Green hydrogen is pivotal as an energy carrier within power-to-X processes. The safe, sustainable, and compliant production of green hydrogen necessitates the establishment of well-informed voluntary standards and regulations overseeing the production, labeling, and trade of green hydrogen and its derivatives. This study initially investigates the environmental impact implications of scaling up green hydrogen production to a megawatt-scale, employing two distinct configurations of the PEMW electrolysis system through a life cycle assessment. Given the high dependency of PEMW electrolysis systems on critical materials, such as platinum, a critical raw material analysis is performed to identify the essential raw materials that should be prioritised in India for this upscaling endeavor. The life cycle and critical raw material analysis findings reveal that the diverging configurations of the PEMW electrolysis system exhibit significantly different environmental impacts and critical raw material demands. This underscores the necessity for voluntary standards and regulations in the green hydrogen production process to facilitate the definition of green hydrogen and promote seamless cross-border trade from India to other global markets.

Hydrogen is a crucial energy carrier for the Clean Energy Sustainable Development Goals and the just transition to low/zero-carbon energy. As a top CO2-emitting country, hydrogen (especially green hydrogen) production in South Africa has gained momentum due to the availability of resources, such as solar energy, land, wind energy, platinum group metals (as catalysts for electrolysers), and water. However, the demand for green hydrogen in South Africa is insignificant, which implies that the majority of the production must be exported. Despite the positive developments, there are unclear matters, such as dependence on the national electricity grid for green hydrogen production and the cost of transporting it to Asian and European markets. Hence, this study aims to explore opportunities for economic expansion for sustainable production, transportation, storage, and utilisation of green hydrogen produced in South Africa. This paper uses a thematic literature review methodology. The key findings are that the available renewable energy sources, incentivizing the green economy, carbon taxation, and increasing the demand for green hydrogen in South Africa and Africa could decrease the cost of hydrogen from 3.54 to 1.40 €/kgH2 and thus stimulate its production, usage, and export. The appeal of green hydrogen lies in diversifying products to green hydrogen as an energy carrier, clean electricity, synthetic fuels, green ammonia and methanol, green fertilizers, and green steel production with the principal purpose of significant energy decarbonisation and economic and foreign earnings. These findings are expected to drive the African hydrogen revolution in agreement with the AU 2063 agenda.

The iron and steel industry is responsible for around 4% of androgenic CO2 emissions in Europe and 9% worldwide. This is due to the massive use of carbon coke in metallurgy, which is not only linked to energy purposes, but also to the chemical process of iron ore refining. The steel sector urgently needs to find alternative solutions to improve environmental sustainability, with the transition to a low-carbon scenario representing a major challenge. The pyrolysis of methane is gaining more and more attention for the production of hydrogen, as this alternative process to hydrogen production does not generate any CO2 emissions, but provides a solid carbon product that can be re-used in an industrial symbiosis. If biomethane is used, the pathway is even carbon-negative, and generates a net GHG reduction compliant with the EU ETS (Emission Trading Scheme). However, given the high demand for inlet streams in the EU steel sector, the biomethane currently available is not able to meet the entire hydrogen demand assuming that the steel is produced using the DRI-EAF (Direct Reduction Iron-Electric Arc Furnace) route. Only when looking at the European projections for biomethane production in 2050, it is expected that the demand for steel hydrogen can be totally met, in particular by using 48% of the available biomethane, allowing up to 6 million tons of green hydrogen to be produced, and a significant reduction in net CO2 emissions. Finally, the aim of this work is to assess the energy consumption and environmental benefits resulting from the production of green hydrogen and biogenic carbon in Europe for DRI-EAF, compared to the benchmark market (DRI-EAF fed with natural gas) and the electrolysis alternative.

The chemical industry is making significant investments in clean energy technologies, such as green hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, electric heating, and electrochemical processes to reduce carbon emissions. However, uncertainties regarding investments in recent technologies, fluctuating electricity and carbon prices, and the need to balance existing infrastructure with new ones complicate the transition. In this study, we develop a mixed-integer linear programming formulation to determine the most cost-effective transition for the decarbonization of oil refineries, incorporating electrification for steam generation, green hydrogen production, or carbon capture for blue hydrogen production and other emission sources. Two case studies that consider different refinery configurations are presented. Overall, the results of our simulations indicate that (i) natural gas with carbon capture is more economically favorable than electricity-based options, unless there are significant reductions in electricity prices or stricter emission regulations are imposed; (ii) carbon taxes or credits drive earlier adoption of capture technologies but do not promote electrification.

The planet cannot survive without a sustainable approach to development, and global energy systems are rapidly evolving to meet the growing demand for clean, renewable alternatives. In this context, wind energy plays a crucial role, particularly in regions rich in abundant wind resources. Since wind energy is free and has no emissions, it can provide the electricity needed to manufacture green hydrogen (GH2), which makes the combination of wind and hydrogen production a promising solution in the energy transition. GH2 is a renewable fuel that can significantly contribute to climate goals, energy security, and decarbonization of economies and societies. Produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, green hydrogen has the potential to be both a practical response to environmental challenges and a driver of long-term sustainability. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has a unique position to produce sustainable green hydrogen because of its favorable geographic location and exceptional offshore wind potential. Large-scale renewable energy facilities have a unique opportunity in the North Atlantic offshore due to the ocean’s consistent wind patterns and the province’s proximity to the USA and European markets. Although the NL’s energy sector is mostly based on renewable energy resources (hydro), there is still a lack of thorough research that integrates the possibilities of wind energy and green hydrogen to boost the energy transition of the province of NL. This study is a narrative literature review, which highlights the vital role of wind energy in facilitating the sustainable energy transition in NL and explains the status of provincial GH2 projects. It emphasizes NL’s untapped potential to develop a robust, sustainable, and export-driven clean energy sector. Additionally, it uses a transdisciplinary review to co-produce knowledge that addresses practical sustainability challenges and provides some policy recommendations for the successful implementation of green hydrogen projects in the NL province.