Hydrogen Contributes to Decarbonization: Blue vs. Green Hydrogen for Industry

Hydrogen is vital for large industries. Refineries and ammonia plants use it constantly. Current production methods burn vast amounts of fossil fuels. This usage creates 830 million tons of CO2 yearly. We must find low-carbon alternatives. Decarbonized hydrogen offers a solution. It actively helps fight climate change. We compare two main types: blue and green hydrogen.

The Role of Hydrogen in Industry

Oil refining and ammonia production consume most dedicated hydrogen. Switching to biomass is too expensive right now. We need blue or green hydrogen to reduce industrial emissions. This change would drastically shrink the overall carbon footprint.

Understanding Blue Hydrogen

Blue hydrogen starts with fossil fuels. It uses natural gas reforming or coal gasification. We then capture the resulting CO2 emissions. This process is called Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). Capturing the process stream CO2 reduces emissions by 50% to 60%. Capturing all gases cuts emissions by 90% or more. Blue hydrogen is currently cheaper to produce. Costs might fall further within the next decade. Autothermal reforming could make the process more efficient. This method combines process and combustion emissions for easier capture.

Understanding Green Hydrogen

Green hydrogen uses zero-carbon electricity. It splits water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. The power source must be clean, like solar or wind. Using typical grid electricity often generates high emissions. Green hydrogen costs much more today. High electricity prices cause this disparity. Low utilization also increases the cost per kilogram. Production stops when zero-carbon power is unavailable. You can learn more about climate solutions when you Read Our Blog.

Cost Challenges and Future Outlook

Reducing green hydrogen costs is crucial. Lower power costs help significantly. Solar and wind prices continue to drop globally. We also need cheaper electrolyzers. Electrolyzer costs could fall by 90% by 2050. This huge reduction would make green hydrogen very competitive.

Delivery Costs: Storage and Transport

Delivered cost matters most to industrial users. This cost includes storage and transport expenses. Hydrogen is challenging to store and transport safely. Its low density makes dedicated pipelines expensive. Salt cavern storage is the least expensive option. Even this method adds notable expense to the final price.

Comparing Supply Chains: Blue vs. Green

Blue hydrogen has advantages near the US Gulf Coast. Natural gas is abundant there. Existing salt caverns and pipelines are available. Refineries and ammonia plants operate nearby. Blue hydrogen runs constantly, needing less storage capacity.

Green hydrogen is best produced in specific areas. The Great Plains (wind) and Southwest (solar) are ideal locations. These regions lack extensive infrastructure currently. Green hydrogen requires massive storage capacity. Production varies greatly by day and season. Locating plants near salt caverns is absolutely essential.

Conclusion: The Decarbonization Path

Blue hydrogen is the best near-term option. It reduces industrial carbon emissions effectively today. Green hydrogen offers the ultimate low-emission path forward. Its production and delivery costs must decline substantially first. We must focus on both infrastructure and cheaper zero-carbon power. Visit our site to help support sustainable projects today. Shop Our Products.

Reference: Inspired by content from https://www.resources.org/common-resources/the-potential-of-hydrogen-for-decarbonization-reducing-emissions-in-oil-refining-and-ammonia-production/.