IS GREEN HYDROGEN THE ANSWER TO ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY?

Green hydrogen could be another solution to the climate change crisis. In the hunt for full energy sustainability, the use of hydrogen has been a key ingredient. However, it takes energy to obtain the most plentiful element in the universe. If the energy required to separate hydrogen from other elements and substances in order to use it is sustainable, or green, energy, the end product is green hydrogen. 

IS THE GREEN HYDROGEN HYPE JUSTIFIED?

Green hydrogen could be a huge factor in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and carbon build-up in the atmosphere. The reason why this relatively new school of thought is receiving so much attention and investment is that hydrogen can be used in an expanding set of industries and products. Already, hydrogen is being used to power electric vehicles, produce manufacturing materials such as steel, and in heavy transport like shipping.

With the cost of renewable energy falling, more companies around the world are embracing the concept of green hydrogen, accelerating its usage globally.

WHICH SECTORS WILL SEE THE GREATEST SUSTAINABLE ENERGY INTEGRATION?

Some experts believe this new technology will penetrate a wide range of sectors, including transportation, food production, manufacturing, home energy use, and more. Hydrogen can be used as a building block in the production of chemicals such as fertilizers, fuel refining, and plastics. It can also be used as a heat source for industrial plants producing steel and other heavy metals and cement. In the transportation industry, some experts believe hydrogen could one day be used as an alternative fuel altogether. Hydrogen is already being used in electricity-peaking plants.

The bottom line is, hydrogen is an essential life element, but it can’t be used as an energy source until it is separated out from water molecules using electricity. The key is finding ways to use renewable electricity for this process to use green hydrogen to improve sustainability.

Source: https://blogs.worldbank.org/ppps/green-hydrogen-key-investment-energy-transition