What are the current and future trends and opportunities for green hydrogen in cleantech?

Green Hydrogen is still a nascent industry. The key barriers are: i) Technological readiness level of the electrolyzers ii) the competition to obtain dedicated renewable power capacity iii) Cost/financial models to make the projects feasible iv) risk-appetite for project developers vis-a-vis intended ROI v) typical egg&chicken issue in a start-up sitaution: Investment needed to get economy of scale advantage, poject bankability needed to get the investment going v) It's clear the production of H2 will often be far away (say in China, ME, India or Africa) from the application location (say in Europe)- however it is still not clear which and how the transport puzzle will be resolved in a best possible way (e.g. ammonia or something else).

The main driver for green hydrogen is a sincere interest in decarbonization- we make 120 million tonnes of H2 per year, 99% of which is made from fossils, and at least 75% of that has durable uses post decarbonization. Green hydrogen is its only replacement. Unfortunately, another key driver is less sincere: it is the interest of fossil fuel industries to remain relevant in energy supply post decarbonization. The gas industry must sell you hydrogen or admit that they're going out of business.

Key existing application areas are: - simply replacing existing black & grey hydrogen molecules (roughly 120 million tons per annum) with green hydrogen. These are application like, ammonia/fertilizers, fuels desulferization, petrochemicals etc. Mid-term additional evolving areas are: - Green steel (DRI using green H2 as reducing agent) - High temp industry e.g. glass Long term additional evolving areas are: - mobility (where BEV can not solve the need) - H2 as new energy vector: use H2 molecules as intermediatory to transport energy from one location to another where direct power transmission is not feasible/H2 as storage to make up for reneable profile fluctuation- where Battery storage becomes too big or too expensive.

Transportation: Fuel Cell Vehicles: Green hydrogen can power fuel cell vehicles, offering zero-emission transportation solutions for cars, trucks, buses, and trains. Maritime and Aviation are also some examples. Industry: Chemical Manufacturing: Hydrogen is a key feedstock for various industrial processes, including ammonia production and petrochemical refining. Steel and Cement Production: Green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in steel and cement manufacturing, reducing emissions from these energy-intensive industries. Energy Storage: Grid Balancing: Green hydrogen can store excess renewable energy during periods of low demand and supply it to the grid during peak times, enhancing grid stability and reliability.

Beware: there are so many announcements, MOUs, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, subsidy announcements etc. that they make your head spin. But when you look into it more closely, something like 2% of these green hydrogen projects go on to final investment decision (FID)- and of those, they tend to be small and pilot in nature. Why is that? Because the fundamental economics aren't favourable. Green hydrogen needs more than just subsidy to make it viable. It needs durable carbon taxes and emission bans. It also needs to be focused on wise use cases. Those are almost exclusively uses where hydrogen's unique molecular properties are needed- ammonia, direct iron reduction etc.- not where hydrogen is used as a fuel.

?? Top 3 Global Green Hydrogen Projects ?? 1. NEOM Green Hydrogen Project - Saudi Arabia: NEOM, ACWA Power, and Air Products are teaming up on a massive $8.4 billion project to produce 650 tons of green hydrogen daily with 2 GW of solar and wind power. Launch expected by 2025. ???? 2. HyDeal Ambition - Western Europe: Starting in Spain, HyDeal Ambition integrates 95GW of solar power with 67GW electrolyzers to create scalable green hydrogen across Western Europe. A major leap for competitive green energy! ???? 3. Australian Projects: Australia leads with 96 green hydrogen facilities, including the Western Green Energy Hub with a 260GW capacity. These projects target both domestic use and export. ????

I mentioned that green hydrogen production faces challenges due to renewable energy intermittency. Here are some solutions for the renewable energy intermittency problem: ?? 1. Hybrid Systems: Combining solar and wind can provide a more stable energy output. ????? ?? 2. Energy Storage Solutions: Batteries, pumped hydro, and power-to-gas technologies can balance the grid. ??? ?? 3. Demand-side Management: Adjusting hydrogen production based on renewable availability optimizes resources. ???? ?? 4. Grid Enhancements: Smart grid technologies and improved forecasting can better manage electricity flows. ????

Future Outlook: Green hydrogen is gaining momentum as a clean energy solution, driven by advancements in electrolyzer efficiency and growing investments in hydrogen infrastructure. Challenges: Key hurdles include high energy demands for electrolysis, the need for affordable green electricity, and integrating variable renewable sources. Solutions: Addressing these issues involves enhancing electrolyzer technology, developing smart grids and storage systems, and fostering hydrogen hubs and corridors.

Green hydrogen is on the cusp of revolutionizing cleantech with significant policy and market momentum propelling its growth. Here’s how to harness this opportunity: Policy Impact: Leverage supportive frameworks like the EU's hydrogen strategy and China's carbon neutrality goals to align your projects with emerging regulations and incentives. Market Expansion: Explore diverse markets, from Japan to Australia, each offering unique partnerships and investments in hydrogen infrastructure. Future Trends: Stay ahead by integrating innovations in electrolyzer technology and renewable energy sources, which are crucial for scaling green hydrogen solutions. Green hydrogen is more than a trend—it's a transformative force in the energy landscape.

India has announced a target of energy independence by 2047 and a net-zero by 2070. The need for Green Hydrogen is increasing enormously due to its potential to decarbonize several sectors, which includes transportation, shipping & steel among others. The importance of Green Hydrogen in achieving energy independence for India cannot be overstated. Hence, India has launched the "National Green Hydrogen Mission" with an outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores with a target of 5MMT production capacity of Green Hydrogen per annum.

Hi Hilton. I’ve been looking at H2 processes from CH4 from landfill and it looks like a big opportunity…. Would be good to catch soon. PS how is the apple tree? All the best to you and D

Hi, In my experience, Green hydrogen holds immense opportunities for future generations in terms of sustainable energy production, climate change mitigation, and economic growth. As the world transitions away from fossil fuels, green hydrogen offers a clean alternative for various sectors such as transportation, industry, and electricity generation. Its potential lies in its ability to store and transport renewable energy, thus addressing intermittency issues of wind and solar power. Additionally, green hydrogen can help decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like steel and cement production. Investing in green hydrogen infrastructure, research, and development can pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient energy future, gives employment

Green hydrogen is an exciting frontier in the cleantech space that's just starting to pick up steam, with the renewable energy boom driving down costs for electrolysis, we're seeing a lot of investment and innovation focused on this zero-emission fuel source. The opportunities seem wide open - whether it's using green hydrogen for industrial processes, energy storage, or powering heavy-duty transportation that's tough to electrify. While it's still early days, many see this as a key puzzle piece for fully decarbonizing sectors like steel, shipping, and aviation down the road, if the technology can scale up in tandem with clean electricity sources, green hydrogen could play a massive role in getting us to net-zero emissions.

Future nuclear technologies will enhance clean hydrogen production, leading to wider adoption as a clean energy carrier. ???? Nuclear power reactors can be coupled with a hydrogen production plant to efficiently produce both energy and hydrogen as a cogeneration system, utilizing high-temperature electrolysis. Nuclear reactors can produce both energy and hydrogen using high-temperature electrolysis. ???? Excess electricity from nuclear plants can produce green hydrogen via electrolysis, which can be stored or sold. ??? This method uses carbon-free electricity for water electrolysis, emitting no CO2. ????

@Ed Pheil Informed me about Some of these possibilities. First the thermodynamics of hydrogen production become more favorable as you raise the temperature of the process. Electrolysis is not the only way to produce hydrogen. With elevated temperature heat sources such as nuclear reactors you can produce hydrogen using chemical means And achieve significantly higher efficiencies than you can with electrolysis.The opportunities exist to make use of the way you steep to increase the thermodynamic efficiency if you locate in proper area. By extracting carbon dioxide from seawater, where it is more concentrated than in the air you can use the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide to produce a net zero fuel. There is no space to take this further