Green Hydrogen Searches For Industrial Outlets
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on E & T Magazine.
It is a detailed look at the uses for green hydrogen.
A few points from the article.
- Like fossil fuel hydrogen can store energy for months.
- Less that 10 % of green hydrogen will be used for energy storage.
- Hydrogen has a poor round trip efficiency, if you create it with an electrolyser and then convert it back to electricity using appropriate technology.
- Heavy transport may account for 25 % of the use of hydrogen.
- Industrial and home heating applications could account for the use of another third.
- One of the biggest uses today of hydrogen is in oil-refining to make low sulphur fuels.
- Steelmaking could be a big user, but there are many different methods and some have problems.
- Cement making could be a good use of green hydrogen.
The article is a must-read and it makes you think.
The Anonymous Widower 
There is every indication that Hydrogen will be zero carbon option for surface transportation (we know it works for airships too). Development of storage techniques make it a practical option to electricity. Big plusses include quick refuelling, long range, minimal weight penalty when compared to electric options.
Comment by John Robin St.Clair | April 20, 2021 |
I would agree, but I do think that ammonia will have a place with really heavy applications like ships as it can be stored at lower pressures.
If I still drove, I’d be seriously looking at hydrogen, especially if at some point in the next few years, my house had piped hydrogen through the gas mains.
Somebody will surely develop a home refuelling system, either based on hydrogen though the gas main or from a personal electrolyser.
Comment by AnonW | April 20, 2021 |
Electric vehicles need home recharging capabilities for reasons of limited range and duration of recharging. Hydrogen’s longer range and shorter refuelling time reduces/obviates the need for overnight refuelling and existing petrol stations could be upgraded to handle their requirements.
Comment by John Robin St.Clair | April 22, 2021 |
ITM Power and Shell are rolling out hydrogen stations. Some are co-located with say a bus depot.
Hydrogen may not get the amount of use on passenger trains you might expect. Many suitable passenger routes are partly electrified and as batteries can be charged anywhere there is electrification or with simple chargers activated by just parking the train in the right place, hydrogen is possibly too inefficient.
But for freight locomotives, using a small gas turbine, I believe hydrogen or liquid ammonia may offer power and range advantages.
Comment by AnonW | April 22, 2021