Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen energy is a clean, sustainable energy source produced by harnessing hydrogen gas. It can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity or as a fuel for transportation. As a zero-emission alternative, hydrogen energy has the potential to reduce greenhouse gases and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

About Hydrogen Energy

• Hydrogen is a clean fuel. It is an energy carrier that can be used for a broad range of applications.
• Also it could serve as a possible substitute to liquid and fossil fuels.Its physical properties like – at standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a nontoxic, nonmetallic, odorless, tasteless, colorless, and highly combustible diatomic gas with the molecular formula H2.
• Hydrogen is emerging as an important source of energy since it has zero carbon content and is a non-polluting source of energy whereas hydrocarbons have a net carbon content in the range of 75–85 percent.
• Hydrogen energy is expected to reduce carbon emissions that are set to jump by 1.5 billion tons in 2021. It has the highest energy content by weight and lowest energy content by volume.
• It is the most abundantly available element on earth, but commercially viable Hydrogen can be produced from hydrocarbons including natural gas, oil, and coal through processes like steam methane reforming, partial oxidation, and coal gasification; as well as from renewables like water, sunlight, and wind through electrolysis and photolysis and other thermo-chemical processes.
• Hydrogen has been colour-coded based on the source of production, and the emphasis is on the use of Green Hydrogen as it helps in reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases and increases the share of renewables in total energy consumption.

Types of Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen has been colour-coded based on the source of production, and the emphasis is on the use of Green Hydrogen as it helps in reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases and increases the share of renewables in total energy consumption.

Different Types	Source
Green Hydrogen	Green Hydrogen is Hydrogen produced by splitting water by electrolysis. This produces only Hydrogen and Oxygen. We can use the Hydrogen and vent the Oxygen to the atmosphere with no negative impact. It is called green because no CO2 emission during the production process.
Blue Hydrogen	Blue Hydrogen is when natural gas is split into Hydrogen and CO2, but the CO2 is captured and then stored. As the greenhouse gasses are captured, this mitigates the environmental impacts on the planet.
Grey Hydrogen	It is a similar process to Blue Hydrogen as natural gas is split into Hydrogen and CO2,, but the CO2 is not being captured and is released into the atmosphere.
Black/Brown Hydrogen	Brown Hydrogen (made from brown coal) and Black Hydrogen (made from black coal) are produced via gasification. It is a very polluting process and CO2 and Carbon Monoxide are produced as by-products and released to the atmosphere.
Turquoise Hydrogen	Extracted by using the thermal splitting of Methane via Methane Pyrolysis. The process, though at the experimental stage remove the Carbon in a solid form instead of CO2.
Purple Hydrogen	Made using nuclear power and heat through combined chemo- thermal electrolysis splitting of water.
Pink Hydrogen	Generated through electrolysis of water by using electricity from a nuclear power plant.
Red Hydrogen	Produced through the high-temperature catalytic splitting of water using nuclear power thermal as an energy source.
White hydrogen	Naturally occurring hydrogen

Hydrogen Energy in India

• Currently, the bulk of the global energy consumption comes from hydrocarbons as Hydrogen is still at an early stage of entering the energy sector in India.
• Government, as well as non-government funding agencies, are engaged in R&D projects pertaining to hydrogen production, storage, utilization, power generation, and transport applications.
• In 2003, National Hydrogen Energy Board was formed and in 2006 the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy laid out the National Hydrogen Energy Road Map identifying transport and power generation as two major green energy initiatives.
• India is participating in Mission Innovation Challenge for clean hydrogen to accelerate the development of a global hydrogen market by identifying and overcoming key technology barriers to the production, distribution, storage, and use of hydrogen at a gigawatt scale.
• By 2050 India intends to produce three-fourths of its hydrogen from renewable resources.

National Hydrogen Energy Mission

The initiative will capitalise on one of the most abundant elements on earth (Hydrogen) for a cleaner alternative fuel option.

The objective of the National Hydrogen Energy Mission is to scale up Green Hydrogen production and utilization and to align India’s efforts with global best practices in technology, policy, and regulation.

It has following features:

• Focus on generation of Hydrogen from green power resources.
• To link India’s growing renewable capacity with the hydrogen economy.
  • India’s ambitious goal of 175 GW by 2022 got an impetus in the 2021-22 budget which allocated Rs. 1500 crore for renewable energy development and NHM.
  • The usage of hydrogen will not only help India in achieving its emission goals under the Paris Agreement, but will also reduce import dependency on fossil fuels.

What is Green Hydrogen?

• Hydrogen is a key industrial fuel that has a variety of applications including the production of ammonia (a key fertilizer), steel, refineries and electricity.
• However, all of the hydrogen manufactured now is the so-called ‘black or brown’ hydrogen because they are produced from coal.
• Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. But pure, or the elemental hydrogen, is very scarce. It almost always exists in compounds like with oxygen to form H2O, or water.
• But when electric current is passed through water, it splits it into elemental oxygen and hydrogen through electrolysis. And if the electricity used for this process comes from a renewable source like wind or solar then the hydrogen thus produced is referred to as green hydrogen.
• Colors attached to hydrogen indicate the source of electricity used to derive the hydrogen molecule. For instance, if coal is used, it is referred to as brown hydrogen.

Current Production

• Green hydrogen currently accounts for less than 1% of global hydrogen production due to it being expensive to produce.
• A kilogram of black hydrogen costs USD 0.9-1.5 to produce while grey hydrogen costs USD 1.7-2.3 and blue hydrogen can cost anywhere from USD 1.3-3.6. However, green hydrogen costs USD 3.5-5.5 per kg, according to a 2020 analysis by the Council for Energy, Environment and Water.

Need for Producing Green Hydrogen

• Hydrogen is a great source of energy because of its high energy content per unit of weight, which is why it is used as rocket fuel.
• Green hydrogen in particular is one of the cleanest sources of energy with close to zero emission. It can be used in fuel cells for cars or in energy-guzzling industries like fertilizers and steel manufacturing.
• Countries across the world are working on building green hydrogen capacity as it can ensure energy security and also help in cutting carbon emission.
• Green hydrogen has become a global buzzword, especially as the world is facing its biggest-ever energy crisis and the threat of climate change is turning into a reality.

National Green Hydrogen Mission is a program to incentivise the commercial production of green hydrogen and make India a net exporter of the fuel.

Sub Schemes under the Mission

• Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT): It will fund the domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and produce green hydrogen.
• Green Hydrogen Hubs: States and regions capable of supporting large scale production and/or utilization of hydrogen will be identified and developed as Green Hydrogen Hubs.
• The main objective of national green Hydrogen mission is Developing green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum, alongside adding renewable energy capacity of about 125 GW (gigawatt) in India by 2030.
• It aims to entail over Rs 8 lakh crore of total investments and is expected to generate six lakh jobs.
• It will also lead to a cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports by over Rs 1 lakh crore and an abatement of nearly 50 MT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.
• It will help entail the decarbonisation of the industrial, mobility and energy sectors; reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock; developing indigenous manufacturing capabilities; creating employment opportunities; and developing new technologies such as efficient fuel cells.

Benefits of Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen energy offers several key benefits:

• Environmental Sustainability: Hydrogen, especially green hydrogen, produces zero emissions when used, helping reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change.
• Renewable Resource: Hydrogen can be produced from renewable sources like water, wind, and solar, ensuring a sustainable and limitless supply.
• Energy Storage: Hydrogen can store energy for long periods, acting as a medium to balance intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
• Diverse Applications: It can be used in transportation (fuel cells), electricity generation, industrial processes, and heating, offering flexibility across sectors.
• Energy Security: Hydrogen can be locally produced from a variety of resources, reducing reliance on imported fuels and enhancing energy independence.
• High Efficiency: Hydrogen fuel cells are highly efficient in converting energy, especially in transportation and stationary power generation.

Challenges Related With Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen energy faces several challenges that hinder its widespread adoption:

• Production Cost: Green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis, is currently expensive compared to conventional fossil fuels and gray hydrogen. The cost of renewable electricity and electrolyzers remains high.
• Storage and Transport: Hydrogen has a low energy density, making it difficult and costly to store and transport. It requires special tanks or pipelines, and the infrastructure is underdeveloped.
• Efficiency Losses: The conversion process, from production to use, can result in efficiency losses, especially in converting hydrogen back into electricity or fuel.
• Infrastructure Development: Widespread adoption of hydrogen energy requires significant investment in infrastructure, including hydrogen fueling stations, pipelines, and storage facilities, which are currently limited.
• Safety Concerns: Hydrogen is highly flammable and requires stringent safety measures in handling, storage, and transportation to prevent leaks and accidents.
• Public Awareness and Acceptance: The public may be unfamiliar with hydrogen technology, leading to resistance or slow adoption, particularly in sectors like transportation.
• Environmental Impact of Production: While green hydrogen is sustainable, most hydrogen today is produced using fossil fuels, particularly in gray and blue hydrogen, contributing to carbon emissions unless carbon capture technology is applied.

Way Forward

The future of hydrogen energy lies in advancing green hydrogen production through cost-effective electrolysis, expanding infrastructure for storage and distribution, and integrating it into industries like transportation, power generation, and heavy industries. Continued innovation, policy support, and investment are key to making hydrogen a central component of a sustainable energy future.

Conclusion

Hydrogen energy holds significant promise as a clean, renewable energy source, offering environmental benefits and diverse applications. With advancements in production technologies, particularly green hydrogen, it has the potential to transform industries, reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.

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