The world is at a turning point in how we power our lives. And guess what? Hydrogen is emerging as the next superstar to help us tackle energy challenges.
With renewable energy tech and electric vehicles making waves, itโs clear that smart policies and innovations can create whole new industries.
Why Hydrogen is So Cool (And Green!)
Hydrogen is shaping up to be a fantastic way to store and transport renewable energy.
Imagine this: energy captured from wind farms or solar panels in a sunny region can be turned into hydrogen-based fuel and sent to places miles away that desperately need power.
Itโs like bottling up sunshine and shipping it wherever you want.
At COP26, the big UN Climate Conference, green hydrogen stole the spotlight. It was hailed as a game-changer to help decarbonize heavy hitters like shipping, long-haul freight, aviation, and heavy industry.
Both governments and businesses are backing hydrogen to play a major role in achieving a net-zero economy.
Big Ambitions, Big Numbers
The Green Hydrogen Catapult, a UN initiative, is stepping up its game. Theyโve almost doubled their goal for green hydrogen production capacity โ aiming for 45 gigawatts of green electrolysers by 2027 (up from 25 GW). The European Union is also on board, rolling out plans to make it easier to integrate hydrogen and other low-carbon gases into the energy mix.
And itโs not just Europe! The UAE is aiming to capture 25% of the global low-carbon hydrogen market by 2030, while Japan is investing a hefty $3.4 billion over the next decade to turbocharge hydrogen research and development.
Whatโs Up with the Colors? Grey, Blue, and Green Explained
If you’ve heard people talking about โgrey,โ โblue,โ or โgreenโ hydrogen, hereโs the lowdown:
- Grey hydrogen: This is made using fossil fuels (like natural gas) and releases lots of carbon emissions. Not great for the planet.
- Blue hydrogen: Similar to grey, but with technology to capture and store most of the carbon emissions. Better, but not perfect.
- Green hydrogen: The hero of the story! Itโs made by splitting water using renewable electricity, producing zero carbon emissions.
Basically, green hydrogen is the one we need to go big on if weโre serious about reaching net-zero by 2050.
Meet Dr. Emanuele Taibi โ The Hydrogen Guru
World Economic Forum asked Dr. Emanuele Taibi, who leads power sector transformation strategies at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), to break down why green hydrogen is such a big deal.
Why He Chose This Path
Dr. Taibi’s passion for energy tech started with his Masterโs thesis, where he dove into sustainable development. Fast-forward 20 years, a PhD, and loads of experience later, heโs now helping 166 countries figure out how to transform their energy sectors.
What Exactly is Green Hydrogen?
According to Dr. Taibi, hydrogen might be the simplest element in the universe, but how we produce it makes all the difference.
- Green hydrogen uses renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
- Grey and blue hydrogen rely on natural gas, with grey emitting lots of COโ and blue capturing some of it.
Right now, green hydrogen tech is scaling up fast, while other methods are still at the pilot stage. If we can lower the cost of electrolysis (the tech that makes green hydrogen), we could see a future where green hydrogen becomes affordable and abundant.
How Do We Get Green Hydrogen to Compete with the Rest?
To make green hydrogen the go-to choice, we need:
- Clear policies that put a price on COโ emissions.
- Investments in renewable energy and electrolyser tech to drive costs down.
- Big projects in places rich in solar and wind power to ramp up production.
Dr. Taibi compares green hydrogen’s potential to the rise of solar power. Just like solar, green hydrogen can become cheaper and more accessible with enough scale and investment.
What Policymakers Need to Focus On
Dr. Taibiโs advice for decision-makers is clear:
- Energy efficiency is priority #1.
- Electrification with renewables should be accelerated.
- Boost renewable power generation to make electricity cheaper.
- Support sustainable bioenergy to help produce green fuels.
- Replace grey hydrogen with green hydrogen where possible to build momentum.
The Future of Green Hydrogen
Green hydrogen is set to play a crucial role in industries that are hard to decarbonize, like shipping, aviation, and heavy manufacturing. In the next decade, it could become a real contender, helping us achieve a net-zero future.
So, if youโre looking for the next big thing in clean energy, keep an eye on hydrogen โ the future is greener than ever!
