What’s the Deal with Hydrogen?
Posted on October 18, 2023 by Charlotte Shuff
Tags, Oregon Utilities 101, Energy, General Interest
Hydrogen, in gas form, can be used as an energy fuel. It can be used to generate electricity, as a direct fuel, or as a transportation fuel. This fuel is receiving a lot of attention right now. But what is hydrogen and where does it come from?
While Hydrogen is the most common element, it is rarely found in a gas form. Hydrogen gas must be produced through energy-intensive industrial processes. Hydrogen gas can be produced from a variety of sources, and hydrogen gases are given colors to differentiate their source.
How Is Hydrogen Gas Produced?
Hydrogen gas is produced by separating the element from other molecules. Hydrogen is not typically found as a gas in nature but is found in combination with many other elements we already have readily available.
The two most common places hydrogen is found and split into gas are water (hydrogen and oxygen) and methane (hydrogen and carbon). From both sources, a lot of energy is required to produce hydrogen gas.
Types of Hydrogen: A Rainbow of Terms
Gray (Methane)
Gray Hydrogen is the most common and cheapest method for producing hydrogen gas. Gray hydrogen splits the molecules of natural gas (methane). Through a process called steam methane reforming, hydrogen and carbon are separated. This creates hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide.
Greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere when gray hydrogen is produced, making this fuel not ideal for impacts on global warming. Gray hydrogen is used in the production of ammonia, which is used for agricultural fertilizer and the production of plastics.
Blue (Methane)
Like gray hydrogen, blue hydrogen is hydrogen that is processed from splitting methane. This creates hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide. The main difference from gray is that the greenhouse gases associated with production are captured and stored.
Many have argued that blue hydrogen is not considered to be a zero-carbon hydrogen fuel source because it is still creating greenhouse gases.
Turquoise (Methane)
Turquoise hydrogen is hydrogen from natural gas. However, the hydrogen manufacturing process is different than gray or blue hydrogen. The methane in the natural gas is split into hydrogen and solid carbon through a process called methane pyrolysis. The solid carbon is also known as carbon black and is a raw material used in industrial applications.
This process is still new and not widely used. While this does not produce greenhouse gases, it does still require a lot of energy. This could be a lower-emission option in the future if that energy comes from renewable sources. The use of methane as a resource still raises concerns about the use of fossil fuels, however.
Green (Water)
Green hydrogen is hydrogen that is produced using energy from renewable sources, like solar or wind, to split water. Green hydrogen is produced using electrolysis, splitting water into hydrogen gas and oxygen. This option is preferable because it does not emit greenhouse gases.
As of 2022, less than 1% of hydrogen is generated using green hydrogen. There is considerable interest in green hydrogen production. In 2022, the federal government has passed federal tax credits, which reduce the cost of green hydrogen.
Pink (Water)
Pink hydrogen, like green hydrogen, is created through the electrolysis of water. However, pink hydrogen is powered by nuclear energy rather than renewable sources. This is sometimes called purple or red hydrogen.
The Future of Hydrogen
There is considerable interest in hydrogen from Oregon’s energy utilities. Due to the high costs of producing hydrogen compared to other energy sources and a lack of hydrogen infrastructure, none of Oregon’s utilities have hydrogen projects serving our state. However, the Biden Administration recently announced funding for seven hydrogen hubs, including one in the Pacific Northwest.
Hydrogen is receiving a lot of attention for its potential to help address the intermittent production from renewables. In the future, hydrogen may be a way to store excess renewable energy at times of low demand. That fuel could then be used to replace fossil fuels in other sectors.
There is much debate about how hydrogen gas could be used in the future. While gas utilities are financially interested in putting hydrogen into our homes, the economics are doubtful. It takes a lot more electricity to produce green hydrogen than it would to heat our homes with electricity. Experts in reducing carbon emissions believe that hydrogen should be used for industries that are hard to move to electricity. This could include transportation, manufacturing, or other heavy industry.
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10/18/23 | 0 Comments | What’s the Deal with Hydrogen?