GREEN HYDROGEN - A BOON

-By Sahitya Suman

-Batch(2k20), Deptt. of

Chemical Engg.

-BIT Sindri, Dhanbad

INTRODUCTION:

We know that due to our heavy reliance on fossil fuels, we produce over 830 million tons of carbon annually, which contributes to global warming, and we want to control/reduce this. For years, scientists and technocrats have been working to develop alternative fuels. The most recent studies by a group of scientist delegates from 195 countries have revealed the worst climate situation, particularly for Asian countries. The upcoming 26th UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP 26) which is scheduled to take place on November 11, 2021, will make action plans to control greenhouse gases and climate change.

> Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, but we require the purest form of hydrogen, which is rare.

> On comparing the energy density of diesel with that of hydrogen, it is found that the energy density of hydrogen is three times that of diesel.

> 'Green Hydrogen' is a zero-carbon fuel. We can make this fuel by splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen using renewable energy from the sun and wind, a process known as electrolysis.

> It is best to keep the temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the additional power demand will be between 25% and 30% by 2040.

> To meet the goal of expert guidelines on global warming of less than 1.5 degrees Celsius, power generation with 'net zero' emissions will be the best solution.

CHALLENGES:

Technical: The main issue is that in order to compress or liquefy the LH2 (liquid hydrogen), it must be kept at a constant temperature of minus 253 degrees Celsius (which is much lower than the temperature of minus 163 degrees Celsius at which liquefied natural gas (LNG) is stored).

The cost factor: According to studies by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA), the manufacturing cost of a green source of energy is nearly 1.5 dollar per kg (for countries with constant sunlight and vast unused land) by 2030, taking various conservative measures into account.

WHAT DOES GREEN HYDROGEN MEAN?

> Green hydrogen is a zero-carbon fuel produced by electrolysis using renewable wind and solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

> This 'Green Hydrogen' could be used to generate power using natural resources such as wind or solar systems and would be a critical step toward achieving the goal of 'net zero emissions. In the current scenario, less than 0.1 percent, or 75 million tonnes of hydrogen per year, is produced, generating 284 GW of power.

MORE ABOUT HYDROGEN:

> Black hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, whereas pink hydrogen is produced using electrolysis but with energy from nuclear power sources.

> Brown hydrogen is produced using natural gas, and the emissions are released into the atmosphere.

> Grey hydrogen is produced using natural gases, and the emission is released into the atmosphere.

> Blue hydrogen is produced using natural gas, and the emission is captured using carbon capture and storage..

> Green Hydrogen, a thriving new concept, is a zero-carbon fuel produced by electrolysis using renewable energy from solar and wind to separate water into oxygen and hydrogen.

THE ISSUE WITH THE GREEN HYDROGEN :

> One of the major challenges that the industry faces in commercializing hydrogen or green hydrogen is economic sustainability.

> For transportation fuel cells, hydrogen must be cost-competitive with conventional fuels and technologies on a per-mile basis.

> Green hydrogen production is prohibitively expensive, and the necessary infrastructure is unavailable.

> Fuel cells, which convert hydrogen fuel into usable energy for automobiles, are extremely expensive.

> The infrastructure for hydrogen stations is woefully underdeveloped.

INDIAN PLANS:

> The India Railways has revealed that the country's first trial of a hydrogen fuel cell technology-based train will run under Northern Railway on the 89-kilometer stretch between Sonepat and Jind by retrofitting an existing diesel engine.

> The project will not only save a few lakhs in diesel engine costs each year, but it will also reduce the release of 0.72 kilotons of particulate matter and 11.12 kilotons of carbon per year.

> The National Hydrogen Energy Mission aims to produce hydrogen from natural energy resources.

> At the moment, India requires approximately 5.5 million tonnes of hydrogen, the majority of which is produced from imported fossil fuels.

> At the moment, India generates grey or blue hydrogen, which is produced using fossil fuels.

CONCLUSION:

Green hydrogen power generation will be a viable option for meeting the target of net-zero emissions while keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. It will also be a significant step toward reducing reliance on conventional fossil fuels. It is past time for hydrogen to catch up with the rest of the world by embracing clean energy, decarbonizing the economy, and adopting 'Green Hydrogen' as an environmentally friendly and safe fuel for the next generation.