Talking Climate Change with Yash Negi

Fueling Tomorrow with Zero Emissions

• Yash Negi • Season 2 • Episode 1

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Can green hydrogen truly reshape our energy future? Join me, I explore this groundbreaking zero-emission fuel that's capturing the imagination of scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders alike. From its production through electrolysis using renewable energy to its potential to decarbonize heavy industry and long-haul transportation, green hydrogen stands as a beacon of hope in our fight against climate change. We'll also delve into its versatile roles as an energy carrier and storage solution, and spotlight the recent technological advancements and cost reductions that make green hydrogen more accessible than ever. Plus, get inspired by real-world projects leading the charge in this green revolution.

But the journey doesn't stop at understanding green hydrogen. The second chapter amplifies the power of individual and collective action in combating climate change. I'll discuss practical ways to advocate for clean energy policies, make sustainable choices in our lives, and raise awareness about the climate crisis. Each of us has a crucial role to play, and together, we can build a greener future. Thank you for tuning into Talking Climate Change with Yash Negi. If you found this episode enlightening, help us spread the word by following and sharing with your friends. Your support is invaluable in our quest for a sustainable world. Until next time, this is Yash Negi signing off.

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Speaker 1:

Hello everyone, this is your host, yash Negi, and welcome back to Talking Climate Change with Yash Negi. In yesterday's episode, I told you that it has been a while and, after three long years of gap, I am back with season two, and I cannot tell you how excited I am to reconnect with all of you, tell you how excited I am to reconnect with all of you and, as we start our journey together, I want to kick things off with a topic that has been generating a lot of buzz in the energy world green hydrogen. Over the course of few minutes, we are going to deep dive into what green hydrogen is, why it is capturing the attention of scientists, policymakers and industry leaders, and how it could play a crucial role in our transition to a sustainable future. So you might ask why green hydrogen? Well, the challenge of climate change requires innovative solutions, especially in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize. Green hydrogen might just be the key to unlocking a zero-emission future in areas where electrification alone isn't enough. So buckle up, grab your favorite beverage and let's embark on this exciting journey into the world of green hydrogen.

Speaker 1:

So let's start with the basics. What exactly is green hydrogen? You know, at its core, hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe. When used as a fuel, it produces only water as a by-product, no carbon dioxide and no pollutants. Sounds perfect, right? Well, the catch is in how we produce this hydrogen. You see, hydrogen doesn't exist on its own in nature. We need to separate it from other elements.

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Traditionally, this has been done using fossil fuels, primarily natural gas, in a process that emits significant amounts of CO2. This is what we call gray hydrogen. This is hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources like wind or solar power sources like wind or solar power. The process is called electrolysis, which uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. When the electricity comes from renewable sources, the entire process is emission free. So, in essence, green hydrogen is a way to store renewable energy. So, in essence, green hydrogen is a way to store renewable energy in a form that can be transported and then used in various applications. It is like bottling sunshine or capturing the wind, allowing us to use clean energy even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. So now that we understood what green hydrogen is, let's explore why it's generating so much excitement.

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First and foremost, green hydrogen is a zero emission fuel when used in a fuel cell or burned directly. The only byproduct is water vapor. This makes it an attractive option for decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify directly. Take heavy industry, for example. Processes like steel production require extremely high temperatures that are challenging to achieve with electricity alone. Green hydrogen could provide that intense heat without the associated carbon emission. Or let's consider for a minute long haul transportation. While electric vehicles are great for personal use and short distances, the energy density of batteries make them less practical for long distance trucking or shipping. Hydrogen fuel cells could provide the range and quick refueling these sectors need.

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But the potential of green hydrogen doesn't stop there. It could also play a crucial role in our power grids. One of the challenges with renewable energy sources like wind and solar is their intermittency. They don't produce power 24x7. Green hydrogen could act as a form of energy storage, allowing us to produce hydrogen when renewable energy is abundant and then use that hydrogen to generate electricity when needed. This versatility is what makes green hydrogen so promising.

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It's not just a solution for one sector, but a potential game changer across multiple industries. From powering our homes to fueling our industries and vehicles, green hydrogen could be the missing piece in our clean energy puzzle. Moreover, green hydrogen opens up new possibilities for energy trade. Countries with abundant renewable sources could produce green hydrogen and export it to regions with less favorable conditions for renewable energy production. This could reshape global energy dynamics, potentially leading to a more distributed and equitable energy system. So the excitement around green hydrogen isn't just theoretical. You see, major countries and companies are already making significant investments. The EU has set a target of 40 gigawatts of electrolyser capacity by 2030. Japan is positioning itself as a future hydrogen society, and energy giants like Shell and BP are pivoting towards green hydrogen as a part of their strategies to adopt a low, low carbon future. In short, green hydrogen promises to be a versatile, clean energy carrier that could help us tackle some of the most challenging aspects of decarbonisation. It's no wonder it's being hailed as a potential silver bullet in our fight against climate change.

Speaker 1:

So where are we now with green hydrogen? While the technology isn't new electrolysis was discovered over 200 years ago was discovered over 200 years ago. Recent advancements have brought green hydrogen to the forefront of clean energy discussion. One of the most significant developments has been in electrolyzer technology. So if you don't know what electrolyzer is, let me explain to you. It is the devices that split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and they are at the heart of green hydrogen production. In recent years, we have seen dramatic improvements in electrolyzer efficiency and durability, along with significant cost reduction. According to the IEA International Energy Agency the cost of electrolyzers has fallen by 60% since 2010 and many experts predict these costs will continue to fall as production scales up. Some projections suggest electrolyzer costs could fall by another 50% by 2030. This is crucial to understand, because the cost of electrolyzers is a major factor in the overall cost of green hydrogen. As these costs come down, green hydrogen becomes more competitive with other energy sources.

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But it is not just about the technology. We are also seeing a wave of real-world projects and initiatives. For example, in Saudi Arabia, a 5 billion green hydrogen plant powered by 4 gigawatts of wind and solar power is under construction. Once completed, it will be the world's largest green hydrogen project. In Europe, the Nord H2 project aims to produce green hydrogen using offshore wind power in the North Sea. By 2040, it could be producing over 800,000 tons of green hydrogen annually. Think about it for a second 800,000 tons of green hydrogen annually. Even in the transportation sector we are seeing progress. Several car manufacturers, including Toyota and Hyundai have hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on the market, and in Switzerland, a fleet of fuel cell trucks is already in operation, with plans for expansion. These projects are still in their early stages and green hydrogen currently makes up only a tiny fraction of global hydrogen production, but the momentum is building and the scale of these initiatives shows the seriousness with which industry and governments are pursuing green hydrogen as a solution.

Speaker 1:

Despite its promises, green hydrogen faces several significant challenges that need to be overcome before it can be widely adopted. The first and perhaps most significant hurdle is the cost. So currently, producing green hydrogen is considerably more expensive than producing grey hydrogen from natural gas or even blue hydrogen, which uses carbon capture to reduce emissions from fossil fuel based production. According to IEA, the cost of green hydrogen in 2019 ranged from $2.50 to $6.80 per kilogram, compared to $1.50 to $2.50 per kilogram for blue hydrogen. These costs need to come down significantly for green hydrogen to be competitive. The good news is that the costs are projected to fall as technology improves and production scales up. According to some analysts, green hydrogen could be cost-competitive with blue hydrogen by 2030 in some regions, but until then, the higher cost remains a significant barrier to widespread adoption. Another major challenge is infrastructure. Producing green hydrogen at scale will require massive amounts of renewable electricity. We are talking about buildings out solar and wind capacity far beyond what is needed for the electrical grid alone. And once the hydrogen is produced, we need infrastructure to store it, transported and utilize it.

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Hydrogen has some tricky properties. That makes this challenging. It is the smallest molecule in existence, which means it can escape through tiny gaps that would contain other gases. It also needs to be stored under high pressure or at extremely low temperatures, which requires specialized equipment. There is also the question of energy efficiency. The process of using electricity to produce hydrogen, then using that hydrogen to produce electricity again, involves energy losses at each step. Some critics argue that it is more efficient to use renewable electricity directly where possible, rather than converting it into hydrogen and back than converting it into hydrogen and back.

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Safety is another consideration, because hydrogen is highly flammable and can form explosive mixtures with air. While safety protocols exist and hydrogen can be handled safely, public perception and regulatory frameworks will need to be addressed. Lastly, there is this chicken and egg problem of supply and demand. Potential users of hydrogen are hesitant to invest in hydrogen power systems without a guaranteed supply of affordable green hydrogen. At the same time, producers are wary of investing in large-scale production without guaranteed demand. These challenges are significant, but they are not insurmountable. With continued technological advancement, supportive policies and strategic investments, many experts believe we can overcome these hurdles. So how do we address these challenges and pave the way for green hydrogen to reach its full potential? So let's explore some of the solutions being proposed and implemented.

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First, to address the cost issue, many governments are implementing supportive policies. These include direct subsidies for green hydrogen production, carbon pricing mechanisms that make fossil fuels less competitive and mandates for green hydrogen use in certain sectors. For instance, the European Union's hydrogen strategy includes plans for 6 GW of renewable hydrogen electrolysers by 2024 and 40 gigawatts by 2030, backed by a range of financial and regulatory support mechanisms. To tackle the infrastructure challenge, several countries are developing comprehensive hydrogen strategies. These often include plans for hydrogen valleys, regions where hydrogen production, storage, distribution and use are co-located to build complete value chains. The Heven project in the Netherlands is a great example of this approach.

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Improving energy efficiency is a key focus of ongoing research and development. New types of electrolyzers, such as solid oxide electrolyzers, promise higher efficiency than any other. There is also work being done on novel approaches like photo electrochemical water splitting, which could produce hydrogen directly from sunlight, potentially increasing overall system efficiency. Addressing safety concerns involves both technological solution and public education. Advanced sensors and safety systems are being developed to detect and manage potential leaks. At the same time, demonstration projects are helping to familiarize the public with hydrogen technologies and their safety features.

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Coming back to the chicken and egg problem of supply and demand, and these are being addressed through coordination action between governments, industry and investors, many hydrogen projects are being developed with off-take agreements in place ensuring a market for the hydrogen produced. Governments are also using their purchasing power, for instance by committing to use hydrogen buses or trains, to help create that initial demand. Looking ahead, the potential for cost reductions through scaling and technological improvements is significant. Bloomberg's new energy finance projects that green hydrogen could be cheaper than natural gas in 15 out of 28 markets they analyzed by 2015, representing 69% of global GDP. Integration with renewable energy systems is another exciting prospect. Energy systems is another exciting prospect as more variable renewable energy comes online. Using excess electricity to produce hydrogen could help balance the grid and make better use of our renewable resources. There is also growing interest in international hydrogen trade. Countries with abundant renewable resources could become major exporters of green hydrogen, potentially reshaping global energy dynamics.

Speaker 1:

While challenges remain, the rapid progress we are seeing in green hydrogen technology and deployment is truly exciting. With continued effort and investment, green hydrogen could play a crucial role in our clean energy future. As we explore today, green hydrogen holds immense potential in our quest for clean, sustainable energy. It also offers a path to decarbonize sectors that are difficult to electrify directly, provides a means of energy storage and transport, and could reshape global energy systems. While challenges remain, particularly around costs, infrastructure and efficiency, the rapid progress in this field is truly exciting. From technological advancements to supportive policies and ambitious projects, we are seeing a global push to make green hydrogen a reality.

Speaker 1:

As we continue our journey in this new season of Talking Climate Change, with Yashnagy, I will be delving deeper into other innovative solutions and critical issues in the world of climate change and sustainability. Green hydrogen is just one piece of the puzzle, but it is a piece that could have far-reaching impacts. I want to thank you all for tuning in today, especially after our long break. Your interest and engagement with these crucial topics are what drive me to continue this conversation. Remember, understanding these issues is the first step towards making informed decisions and driving positive change. So keep listening, keep learning and let's work together towards a greener, more sustainable world.

Speaker 1:

Whether it's through supportive, clean energy policies, making sustainable choices in our daily lives or simply staying informed and spreading awareness, each of us has a role to play. Thank you for joining me again on Talking Climate Change with Yashnagy, season 2. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow and share with friends who might be interested in these type of conversation. Your support helps me reach more people with this important information. Until next time. This is Yash Negi signing off. Stay curious, stay engaged and let's keep working towards a cleaner, greener future.