Scottish energy experts devise emissions performance chart to show how green your hydrogen is

By KIRSTY LYNCH and SAM GOMERSALL

Hydrogen is emerging as an exciting future energy source to help drastically cut emissions from those ‘hard to decarbonise’ sectors – such as internal heating for homes and offices, transport and industry – that have haunted the dreams of our Energy and Environment ministers over the last decade.

However, not all hydrogen is created equal. At the point at which we use hydrogen it may have no emissions, but hydrogen doesn’t just appear as a CO2 free miracle gas. Rather, it has to be produced, and this can happen in a myriad of ways with varying levels of CO2 emissions.

Hydrogen from electrolysis is often termed ‘green’ hydrogen, whilst hydrogen from natural gas using a team methane reformer is sometimes called ‘brown’ hydrogen, or ‘clean’ hydrogen when it is partnered with carbon capture and storage (CCS).

These descriptions have reached the end of their useful life, since, for example, it is possible to use grid electricity for electrolysis, which may have been generated by fossil fuels, including, in some countries, coal.

So as the hydrogen economy develops, it’s important that we have a clear and simple method of communicating what emissions are associated with different types of hydrogen production.

As a starting point, we propose an emissions performance chart like the one shown above – simple, colourful and in keeping with other energy sources and products.

A numerical analysis and simple presentation chart would help progress our understanding of hydrogen production emissions.

To allow for accurate emissions analysis, we need transparency on the chain of energy required to produce the hydrogen, including consideration of any transport or storage for either the hydrogen or its original energy source.

The chart shown (above) is proposed as a starting point for describing emissions. Further detailed work is required to calculate emissions for different hydrogen production methods at specific sites, so that performance levels can be fairly compared.

SAM GOMERSALL and KIRSTY LYNCH are two of the experts at the Pale Blue Dot energy transition management consultancy, which is based at the Brathens Eco-Business Park in Banchory.

For more information: https://pale-blu.com/

23 May 2018