Clean hydrogen is a term that has been thrown around a lot in recent years, especially in the context of the energy transition. But what exactly is clean hydrogen, and why is there an ongoing battle to define it?
At its core, clean hydrogen is hydrogen that is produced using renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power. This is in contrast to “grey” hydrogen, which is produced using fossil fuels like natural gas. Grey hydrogen is currently the most common form of hydrogen production, but it comes with significant carbon emissions.
Clean hydrogen, on the other hand, has the potential to be a game-changer in the fight against climate change. It can be used as a fuel for transportation, as a way to store renewable energy, and as a feedstock for industrial processes. But in order for it to truly be a clean solution, it needs to be produced using renewable energy sources and have minimal carbon emissions throughout its entire lifecycle.
This is where the battle to define clean hydrogen comes in. There are currently several different definitions of what constitutes clean hydrogen, and different stakeholders have different opinions on what should be included.
For example, some argue that only hydrogen produced using 100% renewable energy should be considered clean. Others argue that hydrogen produced using low-carbon sources like nuclear power or carbon capture and storage (CCS) should also be included.
There are also debates around the carbon intensity of the hydrogen production process. Some argue that any hydrogen production process that emits more than a certain amount of carbon should not be considered clean, while others believe that a certain level of emissions is acceptable as long as they are offset or captured.
These debates are not just academic – they have real-world implications for the development of clean hydrogen. For example, policymakers need to decide which types of hydrogen should be eligible for subsidies or other forms of support. Companies need to decide which types of hydrogen to invest in and develop.
Despite these debates, there is growing consensus that clean hydrogen is a critical part of the energy transition. The European Union, for example, has set a target of producing 40 GW of renewable hydrogen by 2030. The United States has also recently announced plans to invest in clean hydrogen as part of its infrastructure package.
Ultimately, the definition of clean hydrogen will likely continue to evolve as technology advances and stakeholders continue to debate. But one thing is clear – if we want hydrogen to be a truly clean solution, we need to ensure that it is produced using renewable energy sources and has minimal carbon emissions throughout its entire lifecycle.
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