Hydrogen energy is a versatile and clean fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in various sectors of the economy. The Biden administration has announced a $7 billion investment to create seven regional hydrogen hubs across the country, aiming to make hydrogen more affordable and accessible. Here are some key facts about hydrogen energy and its role in fighting climate change.
What is hydrogen energy and how is it produced?
Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe, accounting for 10% of a human’s body weight and forming the core of stars. Hydrogen can be used as a fuel to power vehicles, generate electricity, produce heat, and make synthetic fuels. Hydrogen does not emit any greenhouse gas at the point of use, only water vapor.
However, not all hydrogen production methods are low-carbon. Currently, more than 70% of the global hydrogen supply comes from a process that relies on methane, a fossil fuel that emits carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This is called grey hydrogen.
There are alternative ways to produce hydrogen that are more environmentally friendly, such as:
- Green hydrogen: Hydrogen is obtained by electrolysis of water, a process that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. If the electricity comes from renewable sources, such as wind or solar, the process is carbon-free.
- Blue hydrogen: Hydrogen is produced from natural gas, but the CO2 emitted is captured and stored underground or used for other purposes. This reduces the carbon footprint of hydrogen, but not completely.
- Turquoise hydrogen: Hydrogen is produced from natural gas through pyrolysis, a process that breaks down natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon (graphite). This avoids CO2 emissions, but requires more energy and produces less hydrogen than other methods.
Why is hydrogen energy important for climate action?
Hydrogen energy can help the U.S. achieve its goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change. Hydrogen can complement other clean energy sources, such as wind and solar, to reduce emissions in sectors that are hard to decarbonize with electrification, such as:
- Industry: Hydrogen can be used to make steel, cement, chemicals, and other products that require high temperatures and emit large amounts of CO2. Hydrogen can also be used to make synthetic fuels, such as ammonia and methanol, that can replace fossil fuels in some applications.
- Transportation: Hydrogen can power vehicles that run on fuel cells, which convert hydrogen and oxygen into electricity and water. Fuel cell vehicles have longer range and faster refueling time than battery electric vehicles, making them suitable for heavy-duty transport, such as trucks, buses, trains, ships, and planes.
- Heating: Hydrogen can be blended with natural gas or replace it entirely in pipelines and appliances that provide heating for buildings. This can reduce the reliance on natural gas, which accounts for about 30% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
- Storage: Hydrogen can be used to store excess renewable energy when supply exceeds demand, and release it when needed. This can help balance the grid and overcome the intermittency of wind and solar power.
What are the challenges and opportunities for hydrogen energy in the U.S.?
The U.S. is one of the largest producers and consumers of hydrogen in the world, mainly for industrial purposes. However, most of the hydrogen used in the U.S. is grey hydrogen, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. To increase the share of low-carbon hydrogen in the U.S., several challenges need to be addressed, such as:
- Cost: The cost of producing low-carbon hydrogen is currently higher than that of grey hydrogen or other fossil fuels. This makes it less competitive in the market and discourages investment and innovation. To reduce the cost of low-carbon hydrogen, the U.S. needs to scale up production, improve efficiency, lower capital costs, and create supportive policies and incentives.
- Infrastructure: The existing infrastructure for transporting and storing hydrogen is limited and outdated in the U.S., posing safety and reliability issues. To expand the use of hydrogen across different sectors and regions, the U.S. needs to upgrade or build new infrastructure, such as pipelines, terminals, refueling stations, and storage facilities.
- Standards: The lack of common standards and regulations for low-carbon hydrogen production, quality, safety, measurement, and certification creates uncertainty and confusion for producers, consumers, investors, and policymakers. To ensure consistency and transparency in the hydrogen market, the U.S. needs to develop and adopt clear standards and regulations at the national and international levels.
Despite these challenges, the U.S. also has many opportunities to advance hydrogen energy, such as:
- Resources: The U.S. has abundant natural resources, such as natural gas, biomass, wind, and solar, that can be used to produce low-carbon hydrogen. The U.S. also has large potential for carbon capture and storage, which can enable blue hydrogen production.
- Technology: The U.S. has a strong innovation ecosystem, with leading research institutions, private companies, and public agencies working on developing and deploying new and improved technologies for low-carbon hydrogen production, conversion, and use.
- Leadership: The U.S. has a key role to play in shaping the global hydrogen market and promoting international cooperation on hydrogen energy. The U.S. can leverage its diplomatic and economic influence to foster partnerships, trade, and investment with other countries that share the vision of a clean energy future.
How is the Biden administration supporting hydrogen energy?
The Biden administration has recognized the importance of hydrogen energy for achieving its climate goals and has taken several steps to support its development and deployment in the U.S., such as:
- Investing $7 billion to create seven regional hydrogen hubs that will produce, transport, store, and use clean hydrogen in various sectors and applications. The hubs will be located in different parts of the country, reflecting the diversity of resources and needs. The hubs will also serve as demonstration projects and innovation platforms for low-carbon hydrogen.
- Launching the Hydrogen Shot initiative, which aims to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen by 80% to $1 per kilogram by 2030. This initiative is part of the Energy Earthshots program, which seeks to accelerate breakthroughs in clean energy technologies that can transform the economy and the environment.
- Joining the Clean Energy Ministerial Hydrogen Initiative, which is a global partnership of 23 countries and the European Commission that works to accelerate the development and deployment of clean hydrogen around the world. The initiative focuses on four areas: production, transport and storage, end-use, and cross-cutting issues.
The Biden administration has also proposed several measures in its Build Back Better agenda that would further support hydrogen energy, such as:
- Extending and expanding tax credits for low-carbon hydrogen production and use.
- Providing grants and loans for low-carbon hydrogen projects and infrastructure.
- Establishing a national clean energy standard that would include low-carbon hydrogen as an eligible resource.
- Creating a clean energy accelerator that would mobilize private capital for low-carbon hydrogen and other clean energy technologies.
The Biden administration’s efforts to support hydrogen energy are expected to create jobs, boost the economy, enhance energy security, and reduce emissions in the U.S. and beyond.
Category: Environment
Meta Description: Hydrogen energy is a clean and versatile fuel that can help the U.S. achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Here are some facts about hydrogen energy and its role in climate action.
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