So, what is Renewable Hydrogen?
Green Hydrogen is produced with “no harmful greenhouse gas emissions” and clean electricity from renewable sources. Water is split using electrolysis to produce hydrogen and oxygen
Blue Hydrogen is produced mainly using gas to heat water into steam. The use of gas means CO2 is also produced, though this often captured making this low-carbon
Grey Hydrogen is the most common form produced from gas or methane with greenhouse emissions not captured in the process
Pink Hydrogen is generated through electrolysis produced by nuclear energy
Other colours include Brown, Turquoise, Red, and White
Source: Sustainable NI
BUT
Germany and France can’t agree on what green hydrogen should be defined as in legislation.
France is a significant producer of nuclear energy therefore would like it included in the definition of green hydrogen in legislation.
Germany, specifically the economy minister Robert Habeck, has said:
Nuclear power is not renewable energy and hydrogen made from nuclear energy is not green hydrogen.
The definition has been delayed due to these disagreements, specifically on energy sources involved in hydrogen production.
Source: Financial Times (€)
The good news is
Meanwhile on the Island of Ireland, government and companies alike are steaming ahead.
Both the Republic and Northern Ireland (NI) have no nuclear power plants and will not be impacted by any rules decided on.
The EU has recognised this by investing €8 million in “hydrogen valley” in Galway, producing green hydrogen by 2026.
Northern Ireland based Wrightbus are currently developing a green hydrogen production facility in Ballymena. Chair of Hydrogen NI, John Palmer, has said he believes NI “can be a world leader in hydrogen production”.
Sources: Afloat, The Energyst, BBC
And more progress
Materials for Clean Energy and Environment research group at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology made a major breakthrough recently.
They developed a technique to make hydrogen from seawater without requiring the energy intensive process of desalination (removing salt primarily from seawater).
This could prove extremely useful in future for hydrogen producers on the island of Ireland where an abundance of seawater exists.
Sources: Startup Daily
What do you think?
Do you think hydrogen is important for decarbonisation?
How do you think renewable hydrogen should be defined?