Green Hydrogen: A Game Changer for Sustainable Built Environment
Kailash Chaudhary GRESB-AP, MRICS, PMP?
Climate Champion ?? I Philomath I Proud Veteran I Personal views shared; not reflective of company stance
As climate change exacerbates, there is an urgent need to minimize GHG emissions within the built environment, one of the largest contributors to global carbon output. The life cycle of buildings—from construction to demolition—leaves a significant carbon footprint. The adoption of green hydrogen as a fuel offers a promising solution, particularly in mitigating Scope 3 emissions, which arise from activities beyond direct control, such as supply chain and embodied carbon in materials. In India's context, integrating green hydrogen into the built environment can be a game changer in advancing toward climate resilience and circularity.
The Role of Green Hydrogen in Emission Reduction
Green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis using renewable energy sources, emits zero carbon during production and combustion. It stands out for its potential to replace fossil fuels in hard-to-abate sectors like steel and cement, which are integral to construction and have high embodied carbon content. The built environment life cycle involves multiple stages—raw material extraction, transportation, construction, operational energy use, and eventual demolition—each presenting an opportunity to utilize green hydrogen.
In construction and manufacturing processes, replacing traditional fuels with green hydrogen can reduce emissions significantly, particularly in heavy machinery and equipment operations. Additionally, as a clean feedstock in cement and steel production, green hydrogen can substantially decrease the embedded carbon in building materials, directly addressing Scope 3 emissions. Its application is not limited to industrial use; green hydrogen can also power fuel cells for backup energy and off-grid solutions, reducing reliance on diesel generators and their associated emissions.
Climate Change Implications and GHG Emissions Mitigation
The deployment of green hydrogen in the Indian built environment can help meet the country’s climate targets under the Paris Agreement, where reducing GHG emissions and achieving net-zero goals are paramount. Given India's ambitious goals of installing 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2070, integrating green hydrogen aligns with this roadmap. Transitioning to green hydrogen in sectors such as construction will not only help curb direct emissions but also play a pivotal role in lowering indirect (Scope 3) emissions associated with the supply chain.
Furthermore, using green hydrogen for energy storage can help stabilize intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind, ensuring continuous power supply for buildings. This can support the development of resilient, energy-efficient infrastructure capable of withstanding climate variability.
领英推荐
Promoting Circularity in the Built Environment
Circularity in the built environment emphasizes the sustainable use and reuse of materials throughout a building’s life cycle. Green hydrogen supports this by facilitating low-carbon material production, energy-efficient construction processes, and clean energy integration. For example, hydrogen-fueled production of green steel and low-carbon cement can be part of circular construction practices where materials can be recycled or reused at the end of the building’s life, thus lowering the overall carbon footprint.
Moreover, by integrating green hydrogen into waste management processes, including waste-to-energy solutions, the built environment can transition towards a circular economy where energy recovery and material reuse become central components of sustainability.
Conclusion: A Game Changer for Scope 3 Emission Mitigation
Incorporating green hydrogen in India's built environment is a strategic pathway to combat climate change. Its ability to decarbonize industrial processes, power clean energy systems, and promote circularity positions it as a key player in addressing Scope 3 emissions. For India's construction industry, adopting green hydrogen can be a pivotal step towards achieving a net-zero built environment, fostering resilience against climate impacts, and advancing sustainable development.
Integrating green hydrogen in construction and building operations can indeed be a game changer, enabling the built environment to not only reduce emissions but also lead the transition toward a sustainable, climate-resilient future
Editor @ RetireFunds.Blogspot.com | Focusing on Future Tech stocks
1 个月In this article, we feature a hydrogen ETF we are invested in, as well as one of the top holdings of that ETF retirefunds.blogspot.com/2024/09/investments-in-hydrogen-and-fuel-cell.html
Re-engaged Energy Consultant- BPRL (Subsidiary of BPCL) AND Visiting Faculty, PDEU, Gandhinagar. Certified Professional to execute Green & Sustainability Certification Project. Former GGM - Head Marketing, ONGC Hazira
1 个月Climate-friendly Hydrogen was and is the most hyped sector in green energy, however, the reality of numerous challenges is impeding the rate of progress of clean fuel(Green) projects across the globe. The capital-intensive project faces challenges to stimulate demand in many sectors of the economy. Undoubtedly, the hydrogen demand will grow quickly in the next decade but it is expected that only a small part may be classified as Green Fuel. As per IEA, Green hydrogen accounts for around 1% of current hydrogen demand globally. Though it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 31% in the next decade, we need to overcome the challenges of high cost, Safety and Storage & transportation infrastructure. The biggest challenge is the Land and Water Impact – with a kg of Green Hydrogen requiring around 9 times the water apart from adequate land for sustained green power. It is an opportunity wherein the market will grow at a fast pace but proper due diligence factoring the cost, safety aspects and energy losses at every conversion step thus straining the renewable energy requirement needs to be examined to ensure success of the project.
PMP | CE | LSSBB | Leading Successful Site Operations | Helping organization to create sustainable factories/ buildings and sustainable facility management
1 个月Insightful