Learn with me about the Hydrogen Economy!

By: Richard Xu, Nabil Saad

Hi everyone, Richard the intern with you again. Today, I’d like to share some information about hydrogen (H₂) as an alternative source of clean energy and how it may change the world in the foreseeable future! As a starter, what does the buzz word “Hydrogen Economy” refer to? In order to understand this term, we must first talk about the current world standard or the “methane economy” and then define the alternative fuel source of hydrogen.

How does the current fuel infrastructure work?

In 2023, the United States alone consumed around 32.5 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas, most of which is methane (CH₄), to power our infrastructure. Methane combustion produces carbon dioxide (CO₂), the long lasting greenhouse gas (GHG). As for CH₄, it heats our planet with a global warming potential (GWP) that is 28-34 times more potent than that of CO₂ over a 100-year period.

What is “Hydrogen”?

Yes, this is the same hydrogen, H, which is the most common chemical element on the planet. The very same hydrogen that makes up the H part in water’s H₂O. However, despite being ever present in most facets of life, hydrogen as an element does not exist as a mono-atom, but rather as a diatomic molecule, H₂. It can also be present in other molecular forms. In order to be used as an energy source, hydrogen must be separated from chemical compounds, such as H₂O as a salient example, through electrolysis that will be covered more in depth in another blog. While the separation process does require energy, the resulting end-products are H₂ and O2, instead of a harmful greenhouse gas. The hope is that establishing a hydrogen-based fuel economy will allow us to sustainably perform these H₂ production processes via a renewable energy source.

After the H₂-production is achieved on a mass scale, Hydrogen becomes a synthetic energy carrier that stores and carries the energy generated from the production processes stated prior. This would make it the best possible energy carrier in the future. 

Source: Johnson Matthey (for illustrative purposes only)

What is the “Hydrogen Economy”?

So what is this “Hydrogen Economy” I keep referring to? The “Hydrogen Economy” is the vision in which an energy infrastructure is based on hydrogen generated via sustainable methods instead of the fossil fuels we are accustomed and addicted to. For example, instead of cars powered by gasoline or electricity generated via fossil fuel, we would instead focus on hydrogen powered vehicles and an industrial and domestic power grid based off of hydrogen. This merely scratches the surface of what is possible with a fuel source transition to hydrogen. With the concept and implementation of the “Hydrogen Economy”, changes can be made to dent this growing ambient greenhouse gas concentration that is warming our planet.

By transitioning away from a methane-centric energy infrastructure and moving towards a clean hydrogen based one, the amount of fossil fuel we consume will severely diminish the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and thus reduce its detrimental climate effect. 

What are the benefits?

Here are some of the key benefits of switching to a hydrogen economy:

Environmental Impact:

As stated earlier, hydrogen, when used as a fuel, produces water as its only byproduct which significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing fossil fuel with hydrogen would contribute to cleaner air and a reduction in global warming.

Energy Security:

Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of sources and a variety of methods. This diversity in production methods enhances energy security by reducing dependence on any single energy source or geopolitical region.

Renewable Integration:

Hydrogen can be generated using excess electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower. This capability helps to balance supply and demand, providing a way to store and utilize surplus renewable energy, thereby enhancing the efficiency and reliability of a hydrogen economy.

Economics Opportunities:

Developing a hydrogen economy can stimulate economic growth through the creation of new industries, jobs, and technologies. Investments in hydrogen infrastructure, research, and development can drive innovation and position countries as leaders in the emerging global hydrogen market. In fact, the U.S states that it aims to create 100,000 new direct and indirect jobs by 2030 as a result of transitioning to a hydrogen economy.

Versatility:

Hydrogen is highly versatile and can be used across various sectors, including transportation, power generation, and industrial processes. Like fossil fuels, it can power fuel cells in vehicles, generate electricity and heat in power plants but without any of the drawbacks. It can also serve as raw material in industries such as steel and chemical manufacturing.

Energy Storage:

Because of how hydrogen stores energy during its production process, it offers a promising solution for long-term energy storage. Stored hydrogen can be converted back into electricity or used as fuel when needed, ensuring a stable and reliable renewable energy supply.

How viable are these changes?

Most of the drawbacks to hydrogen currently are because of its relatively new presence as a form of energy compared to the long standing, pre-established fossil fuel options.

Technological improvements and developments are needed to increase hydrogen production efficiency and reduce cost to make it a more competitive and economically viable alternative to the established norm. 

Developments and distribution networks will have to be created for hydrogen given that the existing infrastructure might not be quite compatible with hydrogen transport, not to mention the safety of hydrogen usage and storage given its explosive property.

From what we can see, the road to a fully hydrogen economy will require major infrastructure and logistical investment from the US federal government. In fact the current Biden administration has already put in place a major funding initiative to pave the way for a hydrogen-based fuel economy and several leading utilities have started a blending process of natural gas with H2. But with sustained government support and economic incentives for academic and industrial innovation, the hydrogen economy can become a more realistic and attainable energy infrastructure for us all to benefit from. If we do manage to achieve said goal, the environmental and economic benefits will be plentiful and the future will be much greener and sustainable for all of us on planet Earth.