Green hydrogen – the energy source of the future?

Green hydrogen – the energy source of the future?
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Green Hydrogen is a transportable and easily stored energy carrier that can be used flexibly in a wide variety of applications.

Examples of this are fuel cell heating systems, gas heating systems and automobiles. The production is based on electricity generated from renewable sources and therefore completely eliminates CO2 emissions, which is the reason why many experts consider clean hydrogen to be the basis of the energy supply of the future.

Types of hydrogen gas

No matter what color the raw material is, hydrogen (H) gas is always a colorless, odorless gas. The chemical element (H) is the most common element in the universe, a component of water (H2O) and almost all organic compounds on Earth. Because it is not available in free form, it must be produced before it can be used as an energy source.

Green hydrogen
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Color symbolizes product type

Depending on the type of production, experts distinguish between gray, blue, turquoise and green hydrogen. Gray hydrogen is usually created from natural gas, which is split by heat into hydrogen gas and CO2. Fuel cells, which, for example, get energy from the natural gas network, also work in the same way. The biggest disadvantage is that CO2 escapes into the atmosphere and contributes to the greenhouse effect.

  • Blue Hydrogen is also produced from fossil fuels. Manufacturers, however, capture the resulting CO2. They store the gas and keep it out of the atmosphere.
  • Turquoise Hydrogen is formed when plants release methane, and solid carbon is produced as a by-product. How stable this process is depends on the heat source.
  • With green hydrogen, the situation is different – it is formed during the electrolysis of water. While the electricity needed comes from solar, wind or hydroelectric power, the only by-product is oxygen. Thus, this process does not require carbon dioxide emissions and is environmentally friendly.

Green Hydrogen Benefits

In addition to sustainable CO2-free production, there are other reasons to switch to green hydrogen:

  • 1 kilogram of H contains as much energy as 2.1 kg of natural gas or 2.8 kg of gasoline (depending on the calorific value).
  • In a cryogenic liquefied form, large amounts of energy can be stored and transported.
  • Green hydrogen makes it possible to store electricity generated by regeneration and use it in a wide range of applications (for example, heating and transportation).
  • Combustion (reaction with oxygen) produces almost no harmful emissions. Lower nitrogen emissions than burning natural gas or fuel oil at low combustion temperatures, no pollutant emissions from low temperature fuel cells (only water is produced).
Smart home – the future is here
Smart home – the future is here
The production of hydrogen is known to many of the chemistry classes – for this, experts rely on the electrolysis of water, when two electrodes are inserted into a liquid and electricity is passed through them. This causes the water to split into hydrogen and oxygen. Both gases are deposited separately from each other on the anode or cathode, from where they can be removed.

Using green hydrogen

Green hydrogen is an environmentally friendly, carbon-free alternative to traditional energy sources. For this reason, according to the plans of the government, it should first be used where local demand is very high. One example of this is the industrial sector. Here green hydrogen can fire glass, cement or steel. It is also necessary to convert exhaust gases into fertilizers, plastics and fuel precursors.

Green hydrogen
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In the mobility sector, the focus is on areas such as aviation and shipping because they consume a lot of energy and account for about a quarter of CO2 emissions.

Another big area of ​​application is heating. Here, green hydrogen can be used to generate electricity and heat on site. In addition, it is already possible today to supply certain parts of the energy source to the natural gas network. While this currently reduces the need for fossil fuels, full hydrogen supply through the gas grid is also possible in the future. Manufacturers are already working on inexpensive and efficient condensing boilers that can run on 100% clean hydrogen.

Why the sky is blue?
Why the sky is blue?
Global warming has serious consequences around the world. Green hydrogen is one way to stop development and create a sustainable energy system. Because the energy source is CO2 free and renewable. It can be stored, transported and replaced with fossil fuels in many areas.