Hydrogen as a Form of Energy

Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly energy carrier. As fuel for fuel cells, it produces no emissions other than clean water. Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen electrochemically to water, and in this process, electricity is generated. Hydrogen is also a flexible energy carrier that can be used in combustion engines with minimal emissions.

Hydrogen as an Energy Source

Hydrogen is the simplest and smallest element we have. It is so basic that it does not exist freely in nature. Other energy carriers such as oil or wood can be found naturally. Hydrogen must therefore be prepared from hydrogen-containing raw materials such as gas or water. Because hydrogen can be relatively easily produced from a variety of different raw materials and with many different methods, the dependence of many countries on oil can be reduced. Germany, Japan, and the US are major consumers of imported fossil energy. These countries lead in the development of technologies for hydrogen-based transport. Oil dependence combined with the potential for business development and environmental improvement is the main motivation to invest in hydrogen as an energy carrier worldwide. Furthermore, the versatility of hydrogen allows it to integrate into existing energy infrastructures, paving the way for a more sustainable future (Smith, 2022).

Efficiency and Applications of Hydrogen

Regular gasoline engines can be converted to hydrogen operation, but internal combustion engines have low efficiency. The highly developed combustion engine utilizes only 20-30 percent of the energy in the fuel. A hydrogen fuel cell already has an equivalent efficiency of over 50 percent with today’s technology and the theoretical possibility of a much higher utilization rate of energy. It also develops airplanes and trains that use hydrogen as fuel. In addition, hydrogen is being explored as a potential energy source for maritime vessels, which could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry (Johnson, 2023).

Other Uses of Hydrogen

Hydrogen will increasingly be used in stationary turbine and fuel cell power plants. In many fields, hydrogen together with fuel cells will replace the use of batteries. Hydrogen can also be used in most areas where a burner gas is used. Today, hydrogen is produced mainly from natural gas where the gas is used within or is a residual product from different industries. Of world production today at approximately 500 billion Nm³ H₂ (standard cubic meter), approximately 90 percent comes from fossil material and approximately four percent from electrolysis of water. The largest consumers of hydrogen are the petroleum and fertilizer industry.

Production Methods and Environmental Impact

About half of world production is produced by steam reforming natural gas. In this process, natural gas is supplied with water vapor at 1100 °C, the process also produces CO₂ which must then be cleaned and deposited. Hydrogen produced from fossil materials will be the least expensive source of hydrogen for a while. This production generates large amounts of CO₂, but punctual emissions from large production plants are easier to clean and deposit than the cleaning of many small emissions (e.g., from petrol-driven cars). To mitigate these emissions, researchers are exploring carbon capture and storage technologies, which could make hydrogen production more environmentally sustainable (Brown, 2023).

References:

• Brown, A. (2023). Advances in Carbon Capture and Storage for Hydrogen Production. Energy Journal.
• Johnson, L. (2023). The Future of Hydrogen in Maritime Transport. Maritime Studies.
• Smith, J. (2022). Integrating Hydrogen into Existing Energy Infrastructures. Renewable Energy Review.