New Study Reveals Higher Emissions from 'Blue' Hydrogen, Highlighting the Importance of Green Hydrogen
A recent study published in the journal Energy Science & Engineering suggests that 'blue' hydrogen may generate 20% more emissions over its life cycle compared to burning natural gas directly. Blue hydrogen is produced by splitting natural gas and capturing process emissions.
While proponents of blue hydrogen often argue that more than 90% of emissions from the production process can be mitigated through onsite carbon capture and storage (CCS) or carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies, the study reveals that the actual capture rate varies significantly, ranging from 15% to 90% for existing commercial facilities.
The study also highlights the inefficiency of using blue hydrogen, as it takes a large amount of natural gas to produce a relatively small amount of hydrogen.
These findings serve as a warning to governments and policymakers who view blue hydrogen as a leading solution in the energy transition. The study emphasizes the need to invest public funds in truly net-zero, green hydrogen production, which is generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar energy.
In the UK, the Ten-Point Plan has committed £500 million of government funding to hydrogen generation, aiming to have 5GW of "low-carbon" hydrogen production capacity by 2030. However, the term "low carbon" encompasses both blue and green hydrogen production. Despite this, several large businesses, including BP and Equinor, are investing in blue hydrogen production in the UK, anticipating continued government support.
The study's findings highlight the importance of scrutinizing the environmental impact and emissions associated with different hydrogen production methods and prioritizing the development of truly sustainable and green hydrogen solutions.
