Hydrogen is the first element in the first group and first period in the periodic table. It is rarely found in its pure form, H2, because it’s lighter in weight than air and thus rises in the atmosphere. Hydrogen fuel is a zero-carbon fuel burned with oxygen. In terms of color, hydrogen fuel production can be classified into three classes, viz., ‘grey hydrogen’ that is produced as a by-product of an industrial process, ‘blue hydrogen’ produced through a production process where CO2 is also produced then subsequently captured via Carbon dioxide capture & storage (CCS), and finally ‘green hydrogen’ that is produced entirely from renewable sources.
Production of green hydrogen is an energy intensive process. It is produced by electrolysis of water with electricity generated by low-carbon power sources. The high cost of production is the main factor behind the low use of green hydrogen. The energy input required for electrolysis of water may be reduced with the use of improved catalysts.
At present Europe is the leader in the global alkaline electrolysis industry followed by China, Japan and US. As reported on July 2021 in TOI, India’s largest oil firm IOC will build the nation’s first ‘green hydrogen’ plant at its Mathura refinery, as it aims to prepare for a future to cater the growing demand for both oil and cleaner forms of energy. ONGC and IOC have also filed few patents on hydrogen production from renewable sources.
With an effective and well-planned green hydrogen production and its utilization, the challenges faced by the fuel & energy sector such as rising energy demand, decarbonization of fuel production process, greenhouse gas (carbon) emissions on combustion and environmental impact, could be addressed adeptly. Renewably-produced hydrogen can be converted into heat or electricity and used flexibly for domestic energy, industrial energy, electricity supply and transport.