What is Green Hydrogen, and how is it different from other types of hydrogen?
Green Hydrogen is the hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources like solar and wind or power, generating low carbon. Green hydrogen has lower or almost zero fossil fuels byproducts compared to other types of hydrogen such as brown or grey hydrogen due to these factors. It is also a clean source of energy. Green hydrogen differs from other types of hydrogen as each type has a different creative process. Below are some types of hydrogen
- Blue Hydrogen
- Gray Hydrogen
- Black Hydrogen
- Brown Hydrogen
- Pink Hydrogen
- Turquoise Hydrogen
Blue Hydrogen:
Blue hydrogen is obtained from natural gas. Blue hydrogen is produced by a process which is known as steam reforming. In this process, heated water and gas are brought together in steam. The output of this steam reforming process is hydrogen. The process also produces carbon dioxide as a by-product. It is not a clean type of hydrogen because greenhouse gasses are also produced in the process. The carbon emitted is then captured and stored.
Gray Hydrogen:
Gray hydrogen is like blue hydrogen in creation. The steam reforming process is also used in gray hydrogen creation. In this process, heated water and gas are brought together in steam. The output of this steam reforming process is hydrogen. The process also produces carbon dioxide as a by-product. It is not a clean type of hydrogen because greenhouse gasses are also produced in the process. The only difference between blue and green hydrogen is that carbon emitted is not captured and stored.
Black Hydrogen:
Black hydrogen is obtained by using black coal. Black hydrogen is obtained by using fossil fuels by the gasification process. Black hydrogen is not environment friendly and releases a lot of contaminants.
Brown Hydrogen:
Brown Hydrogen is similar to black hydrogen only difference is the type of coal used to generate this hydrogen. It also releases greenhouse gasses.
Pink Hydrogen:
Pink hydrogen is obtained by electrolysis. This electrolysis is different from green energy as it uses nuclear energy for this process. It can also be referred to as purple or red hydrogen. The energy obtained by nuclear energy can also be used as a power source in other types of hydrogen generation.
Turquoise Hydrogen:
Turquoise Hydrogen is obtained by methane pyrolysis. It is a new method for hydrogen generation. In this process, solid carbon and hydrogen are produced. If a renewable source is used for this process, it can also be a clean energy source. Carbon capturing and storage is also important for this purpose.
How is green hydrogen created?
Hydrogen is one of the world’s highly abundant elements, but it is not found in pure form from nature, and energy is required to separate it. For the creation of green hydrogen, there are two processes.
- Electrolysis
- Photosynthetic process
Electrolysis:
Electrolysis involves a high current to be passed through the water to get hydrogen. The process is used to separate the molecules of water H2O into oxygen and hydrogen. Below are the steps used for green hydrogen creation.
- The water utilized for the electrolysis should contain minerals and salts.
- Electrodes are drenched into the water and then connected with a renewable power source.
- Direct current is applied to the system.
- As electrodes begin to attractions that have opposite charges as compared to them, oxygen and hydrogen begin to separate from each other.
- The oxidation-reduction process happens during the electrolysis of water due to electricity.
The energy or power required for the whole process is renewable energy sources like solar or wind. In solar energy, light and hotness from the Sun are tackled utilizing a scope of innovations, for example, solar ability to create power/electricity solar thermal power. Sun is used as a source of energy as the rays of the sun fall onto solar panels, they convert them into usable energy, which is then used for electrolysis.
In wind energy, Kinetic energy from the wind is collected by wind turbines using blades. As wind flows over these blades, a lift is created, which causes these blades to turn. Electricity is produced due to this process which can be used for electrolysis.
Photosynthetic Process:
There is another process of producing green hydrogen which involves photosynthetic microorganisms.
In this process, cyanobacteria or green algae generate hydrogen and oxygen. The solar radiations or photons are captured by pigment, producing enzymes. Then in photolysis, the chlorophyll loses electrons. The distinction during the time spent delivering hydrogen happens in the subsequent stage, during which protons supplant diminished carbon dioxide to create the carbs or carbohydrates vital for the advancement of the living being. The instigated decrease response produces atomic hydrogen. Sun and Water are the main two wellsprings of energy in this cycle. It, hence, permits hydrogen creation incomplete separation with the genuine foundation. Moreover, the shortfall of the utilization of anodes or semiconductors dispenses with any imperatives on water quality, which lessens the expense of the normally coupled gadgets and offers more open doors for implantation.
How does green hydrogen stand above all compared to other types of hydrogen?
Green hydrogen stands above all compared to other types of hydrogen because it is environment friendly. There are net-zero carbon emissions in the creation process of green hydrogen. In contrast, other types of hydrogen involve using fossil fuels for creation which are expensive and are climate-damaging. The green used to generate green hydrogen is either solar or wind, which are clean energy sources.
Advantages of Green Hydrogen
Below are some advantages of green hydrogen
- Sustainable: Green hydrogen is sustainable as it does not emit any harmful gasses during its production and usage.
- Storable: Green hydrogen is storable, which means that we can use it as we want.
- Versatile: Green hydrogen is versatile as it can be used according to our use. It can be transformed into gas or electricity, which can be used for different purposes such as industrial, commercial, domestic, or mobility.
- Clean Energy source: Green hydrogen is a clean energy source as there are no harmful gasses emitted during this process, and the byproducts are not harmful.
- Transportable: Green hydrogen is transportable and ready to use if we mix it with natural gas at certain ratios. If we have to use pure hydrogen, it needs changing of complete infrastructure as the current equipment cannot handle its pure form.
Is green hydrogen good for the environment?
Yes, Green hydrogen is good for the environment as there are no pollutants or harmful gas emissions such as carbon dioxide. The whole process of green hydrogen is clean because the energy required for green hydrogen creation is obtained from renewable sources like solar and wind.
What are the by-products of green hydrogen generation?
The Only byproduct of green hydrogen generation is oxygen. As discussed earlier, in electrolysis, oxygen and hydrogen are produced. As we use hydrogen, oxygen is our byproduct, but when this obtained hydrogen is burnt, the byproduct is water.
Can green hydrogen replace natural gas?
Before discussing the replacement of natural gas, the question arises of why we need to replace it. The answer is simple: when natural gas is used or burnt, it releases a lot of carbon dioxide, which is not very environment friendly. The greenhouse emissions due to natural gas were nearly 20%. So, for the green hydrogen, the only byproduct is water instead of carbon dioxide.
Yes, green hydrogen can replace natural gas, but it will require switching to new appliances, boilers, and pipes to handle the pure hydrogen. In short, green hydrogen can replace natural gas completely, but some factors need to be addressed before doing that. It is also used by mixing with natural gas, reducing natural gas usage.
Why is green hydrogen the future?
Increasing green hydrogen will be crucial for assisting worldwide economies with accomplishing net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2060 and limiting worldwide temperature increase because of natural gas consumption. In the future, the costs for renewable energy sources will decrease, which can also help in green hydrogen production. In the future, we can also see stuff like below
- Energy storage for green hydrogen
- Electricity and drinking water generator
- Transport and mobility
Energy Storage for green hydrogen
Green hydrogen can be stored in compressed hydrogen tanks, and it is also simple to deal with lithium-ion batteries than the other storage systems because they are lighter.
Transport and mobility
Green Hydrogen’s incredible adaptability permits it to be utilized in those utilization specialties that are extremely challenging to decarbonize, like avionics, heavy vehicles, and sea transport.
Electricity and drinking water generator
Electricity and water are obtained because of hydrogen and oxygen reactions in a cell. These processes are very useful for space operations to provide the working crew with both electricity and water in a feasible way.
Why do we need green hydrogen?
Green hydrogen can be utilized in industry and can likewise be utilized with energy units to control anything that utilizes power, including electric vehicles and electronic gadgets. Hydrogen energy does not require to be re-energized and won’t run down. The vehicles that can run on green hydrogen are not restricted to autos. Trucks are additionally being intended to run on green hydrogen. Moreover, hydrogen-controlled airplanes are now being planned via Airbus. It can also be used to produce green ammonia. Hydrogen can be utilized as a substitute for gas for cooking and warming inside homes. As of now, green hydrogen innovations are currently at a phase of rising, by which markets are yet to be created, and producers are occupied with experimentalist learning.
Green Hydrogen Uses:
Below is a detailed description of its uses
- Heating
- Natural gas industry
- Transportation
- Green Ammonia Production
Heating:
Green hydrogen can be used for heating purposes within homes. It can also be used as a cooking substitute for natural gas, which pollutes the environment due to its carbon emissions.
Natural Gas Industry
Green hydrogen can overtake the natural gas industry. The main problem with natural gas is its pollutants upon its usage. Replacement of natural gas with hydrogen needs infrastructure renewal because the current equipment cannot handle its pure form. It can be mixed with natural gas for normal usage without changing the infrastructure.
Transportation:
It can be used as fuel for vehicles or automobiles. All types of automobiles can run on oxygen, thus providing efficient transport without damaging the environment.
Green Ammonia Production:
It can also be used to generate ammonia which is a key component of fertilizer production. Also, the ammonia produced by this process can be a cost-effective solution as conventional ammonia production.