You Can Just Ask Us (frequently asking questions)

As the world seeks to transition to a low-carbon economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, green hydrogen has emerged as a promising solution. Green hydrogen is a clean and renewable energy source that can be produced using renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. It has the potential to replace fossil fuels in various sectors, including transportation, industry, power generation, and heating. However, there are still many questions and uncertainties surrounding green hydrogen, from how it is produced and stored to its potential applications and cost. In this blog post, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about green hydrogen, providing a comprehensive guide to this emerging technology.

• What is green hydrogen?

Green hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing water using renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, or hydropower. It is considered a clean and sustainable source of energy because it does not produce greenhouse gases or other harmful emissions.

• How is green hydrogen produced?

Green hydrogen is produced by using an electrolyzer to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy sources. This process is known as electrolysis and produces pure hydrogen gas that can be used for a variety of applications, including energy storage and transportation.

• What are the benefits of green hydrogen?
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources, which do not emit greenhouse gases or other harmful pollutants. This makes it a clean and sustainable source of energy that can help reduce the impact of climate change.
• Increased energy security and independence: Green hydrogen can be produced locally using renewable energy sources, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and increasing energy security and independence.
• Versatility: Green hydrogen can be used in a wide range of applications, including transportation, energy storage, heating and cooling, and industrial processes.
• Job creation: The production, distribution, and use of green hydrogen can create new jobs in the renewable energy sector and support economic growth.
• Scalability: The production of green hydrogen can be scaled up or down to meet changing energy demands, making it a flexible and adaptable source of energy.

• What is the difference between green hydrogen and grey hydrogen?

Green hydrogen and grey hydrogen differ primarily in the method used to produce them and their environmental impact.

Green hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing water using renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, or hydropower. The electricity used in the electrolysis process comes from renewable sources, and the only byproduct of this process is oxygen. As a result, green hydrogen is considered a clean and sustainable source of energy that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions or other harmful pollutants.

Grey hydrogen, on the other hand, is produced by steam methane reforming (SMR) of natural gas. This process involves reacting methane (the primary component of natural gas) with high-temperature steam to produce hydrogen gas. However, this process also produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct, which is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Grey hydrogen is the most commonly produced type of hydrogen, but it is not considered a clean source of energy due to its carbon footprint.

• What are the current applications of green hydrogen?

Green hydrogen is currently used in a variety of applications, including:

1. Transportation: Green hydrogen can be used to power fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and other forms of transportation. FCEVs are similar to traditional electric vehicles, but they use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity, rather than batteries.
2. Energy storage: Green hydrogen can be used to store excess energy generated from renewable sources, such as wind and solar power. This can help to balance the grid and ensure a reliable supply of energy.
3. Industrial processes: Green hydrogen can be used as a feedstock for a variety of industrial processes, such as the production of ammonia and other chemicals. It can also be used in the steel and cement industries to reduce carbon emissions.
4. Heating and cooling: Green hydrogen can be used for space heating and cooling, either directly or in combination with other renewable energy sources such as geothermal or solar thermal.
5. Power generation: Green hydrogen can be used to generate electricity in fuel cells, which can be used to power homes, businesses, and other facilities.

As technology advances and the cost of production decreases, it is likely that new applications for green hydrogen will emerge.

• What is the cost of producing green hydrogen?

This is the most searched question (frequently asked questions) The cost of producing green hydrogen is currently higher than the cost of producing hydrogen from fossil fuels such as natural gas. However, the cost of producing green hydrogen has been declining in recent years due to advances in technology and economies of scale.

The cost of producing green hydrogen is dependent on several factors, including:

1. The cost of the renewable energy source used to power the electrolysis process. This includes the cost of solar, wind, or hydropower.
2. The efficiency of the electrolyzer used to produce hydrogen. Higher-efficiency electrolyzers require less electricity to produce the same amount of hydrogen.
3. The cost of the electrolyzer itself. This includes the capital costs of the equipment as well as maintenance and operational costs.
4. The cost of transporting and storing hydrogen. This includes the cost of compressing or liquefying hydrogen and transporting it to where it is needed.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the cost of producing green hydrogen could fall by 50% or more over the next decade as production scales up and technology advances.

• What are the challenges associated with scaling up green hydrogen production?

Scaling up green hydrogen production faces several challenges, including:

1. High capital costs: The cost of building and operating large-scale green hydrogen production facilities can be high. This can make it difficult to attract investment and financing for new projects.
2. Limited availability of renewable energy: The production of green hydrogen requires a significant amount of renewable energy, such as wind, solar, or hydropower. However, the availability of renewable energy can be limited in some regions, which can constrain the production of green hydrogen.
3. Lack of infrastructure: The production, transportation, and storage of hydrogen require specialized infrastructure, such as pipelines, storage tanks, and refueling stations. The lack of this infrastructure can make it difficult to transport and distribute hydrogen to where it is needed.
4. Technological barriers: The efficiency and cost of electrolysis technology used to produce green hydrogen must improve to make it competitive with other energy sources.
5. Safety concerns: Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas, which requires special safety precautions and regulations.
6. Policy and regulatory barriers: There is a lack of consistent policies and regulations governing the production, transport, and use of hydrogen. This can create uncertainty for investors and limit the development of the industry.
7. Competition from fossil fuels: The production of green hydrogen is currently more expensive than the production of hydrogen from fossil fuels such as natural gas. As a result, there is limited demand for green hydrogen, which can make it difficult to attract investment and financing for new projects.

• How can green hydrogen be stored and transported?

Green hydrogen can be stored and transported in several ways, including:

1. Compressed gas: Hydrogen can be compressed to high pressure and stored in high-pressure tanks. This is the most common method of hydrogen storage and is used for applications such as fuel cell vehicles.
2. Liquid hydrogen: Hydrogen can be cooled to a very low temperature (-253°C) to become a liquid, which can be stored in insulated tanks. Liquid hydrogen has a higher energy density than compressed gas and is used in some transportation applications.
3. Hydrogen carriers: Hydrogen can be stored and transported in the form of hydrogen carriers, such as ammonia or methylcyclohexane (MCH). These carriers can be produced using green hydrogen and then easily transported to where they are needed, where they can be converted back into hydrogen.
4. Underground storage: Hydrogen can be stored underground in depleted natural gas reservoirs or salt caverns.
5. Pipeline transportation: Hydrogen can be transported through pipelines, much like natural gas. However, pipelines used for hydrogen must be specially designed to prevent hydrogen embrittlement and leaks.

The choice of storage and transportation method will depend on the specific application and the requirements for efficiency, safety, and cost.

• What role does green hydrogen play in the energy transition?

Green hydrogen plays a critical role in the energy transition as it is a clean and renewable energy source that can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the integration of more renewable energy sources into the grid.

Here are some of the ways that green hydrogen can contribute to the energy transition:

1. Decarbonization of industrial processes: Green hydrogen can be used as a feedstock in the production of chemicals, fertilizers, and other industrial processes, reducing the carbon footprint of these industries.
2. Decarbonization of transportation: Green hydrogen can be used to power fuel cell vehicles, which emit only water vapor as a byproduct. This can help to reduce the carbon footprint of transportation.
3. Energy storage: Green hydrogen can be used to store excess renewable energy generated from wind and solar power. This can help to balance the grid and ensure a reliable supply of energy.
4. Power generation: Green hydrogen can be used to generate electricity in fuel cells, which can be used to power homes, businesses, and other facilities.
5. Grid stability: Green hydrogen can be used to provide grid stability by balancing intermittent renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, and providing peak power when demand is high.

As the world moves towards a low-carbon economy, green hydrogen is expected to play an increasingly important role in the energy mix, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the transition to a more sustainable future.

• What is the potential for green hydrogen to replace fossil fuels in various sectors?

Green hydrogen has the potential to replace fossil fuels in a wide range of sectors, including transportation, industry, power generation, and heating. However, the pace and extent of this transition will depend on a variety of factors, including technology development, infrastructure deployment, and policy support. Here are some examples of how green hydrogen could replace fossil fuels in different sectors:

1. Transportation: Green hydrogen can replace gasoline and diesel in fuel cell vehicles, which produce only water vapor as a byproduct. Green hydrogen can also be used in heavy-duty transport, such as buses and trucks.
2. Industry: Green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in various industrial processes, including the production of chemicals, steel, and cement. This can help to reduce the carbon footprint of these industries.
3. Power generation: Green hydrogen can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity, which can replace fossil fuel power plants. This can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.
4. Heating: Green hydrogen can replace natural gas in heating systems, such as boilers and furnaces. This can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector.

However, there are also challenges to replacing fossil fuels with green hydrogen, including the high cost of green hydrogen production compared to fossil fuels, the need for infrastructure development to support the use and distribution of green hydrogen, and the need for supportive policies and regulations. Nonetheless, as technology advances, infrastructure is deployed, and policies are implemented, the potential for green hydrogen to replace fossil fuels in various sectors will continue to grow.

We At GH2 Solar

GH2 Solar is a technology-oriented company that has vast experience in executing oil and refineries solar rooftop & large-scale utility projects across India. Being already experienced in the renewable sector, now we are working on the development of “Green Hydrogen” & HAAS (Hydrogen as a Service). If you are planning to adopt Green Hydrogen, you can connect with GH2 Solar to get all information about the same.

For more information, please give us a call at 1800-102-8685