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How is hydrogen produced? Hydrogen production processes. Learn more Hydrogen basics Hydrogen fuel basics Hydrogen production and distribution Hydrogen production and delivery Blue hydrogen and negative CO2 emissions Carbon capture, utilization, and storage research Natural gas used as a feedstock for U.
Also on Energy Explained U. Some thermal processes use the energy in various resources, such as natural gas, coal, or biomass, to release hydrogen from their molecular structure. In other processes, heat, in combination with closed-chemical cycles, produces hydrogen from feedstocks such as water.
Learn more about the following thermochemical processes:. Electrolyzers use electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This technology is well developed and available commercially, and systems that can efficiently use intermittent renewable power are being developed. Learn more about electrolysis.
Direct solar water splitting, or photolytic, processes use light energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. By decarbonising ammonia production with low-carbon hydrogen [xxi] , emissions in the chemical sector could reduce by approximately 30Mt of CO 2 [6]. Replacing this fossil hydrogen with low-carbon hydrogen from electrolysis would require around TWh of additional renewable electricity.
Despite its clean production, the subsequent use of ammonia can result in additional N2O emissions and other environmental impacts, such as disturbances in the nitrogen cycle [xxii]. In order to paint a full picture of the impact of the product, these consequences must be taken into account as well.
Hydrogen is also used to improve the quality of oil and gas products e. While the substitution of the fossil hydrogen used for the production of these products would lead to a substantial decrease in emissions, it would not be compatible with climate neutrality in in the long term. The use of low-carbon hydrogen in oil refining is not compatible with climate goals due to the overall emissions associated with fossil fuel use.
Unlike the steel and chemical sector, hydrogen has a limited use in producing cement. While it can substitute some of the fossil fuels used in the sector, it cannot be used as an ingredient or reactant in conventional cement production. Over the past few years, experts have been developing the use of hydrogen as a fuel providing high-grade heat cement kilns [xxv]. By replacing some of the coal or natural gas, the use of low-carbon hydrogen as a fuel could reduce some emissions coming from the cement industry.
However, the flame coming from hydrogen combustion has different properties to the heat coming from the fuels currently used [xxvi]. As a fuel with different heat dispersion and properties, it might not be sufficient to heat the cement kiln or be suitable for the burner used in clinker production. To address these limitations, researchers are currently focusing on pairing hydrogen with other low-carbon fuels such as biomass [xxvii].
While these efforts might result in successful projects further down the line and result in significant emission reductions [xxviii] , further research and testing is needed [8] [xxix]. Once developed and optimised for kiln heating, hydrogen burners can be paired with other cement making technologies which can be combined with carbon capture and storage.
For instance, cement production with a technology separating process gases from the combustion gases i. Such a combination of decarbonisation technologies, once feasible, would tackle all emissions from cement production and achieve deep reductions in the sector [xxxi]. The industries with the largest potential for low-carbon hydrogen use have existing infrastructure which can be reused or repurposed for the use of hydrogen.
As one of the main consumers of hydrogen, ammonia producers have ample experience and all the necessary infrastructure to convert to low-carbon hydrogen momentarily.
In other industrial sites, implementation will not be immediate since the existing infrastructure will not be suitable for direct hydrogen use [xxxii]. However, large industrial clusters often have access to large pieces of infrastructure e. In the near term, hydrogen production with carbon capture and storage is particularly relevant for areas which cannot produce low-carbon electrolytic hydrogen due to the high carbon intensity of the grid.
According to an assessment from the Wuppertal Institute [xxxiii] , regions with the most electricity demand including industrial decarbonisation do not have the corresponding renewable electricity generation potential. The projections for the balance of renewable generation potential and demand with electricity for hydrogen in Europe are negative for the heavily industrialised regions in the North of Europe:. The regions with a large deficit in renewable energy potential, such as North-West of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, house large industrial clusters, where there is potential for direct applications of hydrogen in the steel and chemical industry.
Some of the large manufacturers such as Thyssenkrupp have already committed to using hydrogen for DRI when it becomes available, but have said that their plants will be operated using unabated natural gas until then [9]. Producing blue hydrogen in the next decades can provide a supply of low-carbon hydrogen to such industries and prevent the unabated use of natural gas in the meantime.
Germany's Thyssenkrupp to build DRI plant run on hydrogen for green steel production. Start off with hydrogen with a very low-carbon footprint for more information see previous section of the project on hydrogen production. Without a low-carbon production proc ess, there are no reductions further down the product supply chain either. Following these simple principles while will ensure that hydrogen investments have a future in the carbon neutral economy — hydrocarbons, particularly fuels such as diesel and petrol, will not.
Future of Hydrogen. Roadmap to Decarbonising European Cars. Greenhouse gas inventory data. Hydrogen: The Burning Question. Modeling and simulation of hydrogen injection into a blast furnace to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
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