There is little doubt that the future of the global energy sector lies in hydrogen, an environmentally friendly energy carrier that should replace carbon fuels. Now there is only one intrigue: which hydrogen will win in the global decarbonization process – blue or green.
What is green hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is H2 produced from alternative energy sources. Recently, renewable energy sources have been actively developing around the world. More and more wind and solar installations are being integrated into the energy systems of different countries, and tidal energy is being used.
The cost of green electricity is decreasing, and its use for the production of clean energy in the context of global warming looks very attractive from the point of view of image.
Green hydrogen is absolutely 100% environmentally friendly. It requires only water, electricity, and an electrolyzer, a special device for splitting a substance into its component parts.
If an electric current is passed through water during the electrolysis process, it is divided into its constituent elements, resulting in hydrogen and oxygen.
What is blue hydrogen?
Blue hydrogen is produced from fossil carbon fuels. In particular, from natural gas, the bulk of which (70-98%) is methane – CH4. It also makes up most of the coal mine gas released in coal mines.
The most common and inexpensive method of producing blue hydrogen is steam reforming (to reform is to process, improve). When water and methane react at high temperatures, a large amount of hydrogen is released.
Blue hydrogen is supposed to be produced using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.
What are the disadvantages of blue hydrogen?
The main disadvantage is that a byproduct of blue hydrogen production is carbon dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere in the same way as when fossil fuels are burned. In addition, methane itself is one of the main greenhouse gases.