Hydrogen is the most widely recognized normally happening component, existing in blend with different components. It is extracted from naturally occurring compounds such as water (which is formed by combining two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). This production process of hydrogen molecule takes energy. This process of making hydrogen is called electroplating.
In the case of water, hydrogen produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy is called green hydrogen. Green hydrogen has very low carbon emissions as compared to gray hydrogen. Green hydrogen can be used to decarbonize sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as steel and cement production, and thus help limit climate change to a great extent.
Green hydrogen is a completely carbon-free, mobile energy source that can complement electrification. Green hydrogen uses renewable energy to electrolyze water molecules, producing no emissions in the process.
Hydrogen has many uses. It can be used in industries and stored in existing gas pipelines to power home appliances. For example, a zero carbon fuel for shipping, it can transport renewable energy when converted to a carrier such as ammonia.
Hydrogen can also be used with fuel to power anything that uses electricity, such as electric vehicles and electronic equipment, and unlike batteries, hydrogen fuel cells do not need to be recharged and can last for as long as They have hydrogen fuel so they don’t go down.
Melbourne researchers latest invention in green hydrogen
Melbourne researchers performed remarkable search and have successfully split seawater without pre-treatment to produce green hydrogen. According to the international study, the researchers split natural seawater into oxygen and hydrogen with nearly 100% efficiency to produce green hydrogen by electrolysis. The team used a very cheap catalyst in an electrolyzer (the process of separating different chemical elements of a liquid using electricity). A typical non-precious catalyst is cobalt oxide with chromium oxide on its surface.
According Nature Enenrgy Report
Current electrolyzers operate with highly purified water as the electrolyte. The growing demand for hydrogen to partially or completely replace energy generated by fossil fuels will greatly exacerbate the depletion of the increasingly limited freshwater resources.
Seawater is a nearly renewable resource and is considered a natural ‘feedstock’ of electrolytes. The study says it is more practical for areas with long coastlines and abundant sunlight. The study said that this, however, is not practical for areas where there is a shortage of seawater.
What will be the benefits of green hydrogen?
Right now energy is being generated from wind mills and solar energy, which do not cause pollution, but they are not useful in every industry. Agreed that it is easy to drive all vehicles, run trains and work in many factories, but industries like steel and cement still require coal. At the same time, liquid fuel is needed for airlines and ships. If seen, all this will not be able to run only with solar energy or the electricity obtained from it.
It can also be understood that long distance travel cannot be done on the basis of renewable energy. In such a situation hydrogen is needed, which can be used for long distance in airlines and water ships including steel-cement industry. It can be stored and used as per need.
Green hydrogen has many advantages, one being its sustainability, as it does not emit polluting gases in its production or combustion. This fuel alternative can also reduce the carbon footprint as it does not release greenhouse gases.
Green hydrogen is full of Versatility as it can be converted into electricity or synthetic gas. It can be used for commercial, domestic, mobility or industrial purposes. It is also easily storable as hydrogen is very light.
Hydrogen fuel cell technology produces a high density energy source that is energy efficient. Hydrogen fuel efficiency enables higher energy output per pound of fuel than alternative energy sources.
