Green Hydrogen Explained: Is It Feasible to Use Clean Energy Mainstream?

Green hydrogen has drawn a lot of excitement worldwide. One report says it is feasible and could be the most used energy source in the next decade.

Green Hydrogen is Feasible

Based on the current trajectories, green hydrogen as a source of energy is feasible. There are already hydrogen-powered delivery trucks, cars, and buses being tested across the United States, and the Department of Energy has committed to making hydrogen a cost-competitive energy solution within the next decade, Newsweek reported.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has estimated that every year, 10 million metric tons of hydrogen are produced in the U.S.A. There are also more than 1,600 miles of hydrogen pipeline in the country. Plus, extensive production facilities are all over the country.

Molly Gilson, Director of Media Relations at the National Grid, told Newsweek that hydrogen is used as a fuel and has no carbon emission. It is also safe and friendly to the environment because it only emits water vapor.

Gilson added that the interest in green hydrogen as the future of clean energy has been increasing. The Inflation Reduction Act also contributed to acknowledging green hydrogen as a clean energy technology.

The tax credits in the new law and the funding from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law suggest that hydrogen might soon catch up with the current energy sources.

Aside from the U.S. government, other countries are also pushing forward for the continued development of the hydrogen industry. John Kerry, the special presidential envoy for climate, said at the Department of Energy's Hydrogen Shot Summit last August that they have already set up hydrogen partnerships in Saudi Arabia, India, German, Japan, and around the world to advance the energy that they believe could play a vital role in the transition to clean energy, CNBC reported.

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What is a Green Hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. In the energy business, people refer to hydrogen in various colors.

Green Hydrogen is when the energy used to power electrolysis comes from renewable sources like wind or solar.

Blue Hydrogen is when the hydrogen produced comes from natural gas through steam methane reforming. For this, the natural gas is mixed with very hot steam, and they usually use a catalyst like nickel. Water will be added to the mixture, turning carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and more hydrogen.

If carbon dioxide is released, the hydrogen is termed "gray hydrogen." If carbon is captured and stored underground, the process is considered carbon neutral and is classified as "blue hydrogen."

Cons and Pros of Green Hydrogen

Iberdrola listed some advantages and disadvantages of switching to green hydrogen. Among the benefits is it is 100 percent sustainable and doe snot emit polluting gases.

Hydrogen is also abundant and easy to store. Easy storage allows it to be used for purposes other than immediately after production.

Green hydrogen is also versatile. It can be transformed into electricity or synthetic gas and be used in the commercial industry or for mobility purposes.

However, its main drawback is its price. It is expensive.

According to CNBC, making hydrogen from natural gas costs about $1.50 per kilogram, and clean hydrogen costs about $5 per kilogram.

Last June, the Department of Energy launched a program called Hydrogen Shot, which aims to reduce the price of clean hydrogen to $1 per kilogram in one decade.

Another concern is safety. According to Newsweek, hydrogen is non-toxic but highly flammable.

They ignore more easily than natural gas and gasoline. Thus, ventilation and leak detectors are essential to ensure the safety of an infrastructure powered by green hydrogen.