Heavy Industry Would Benefit from a Green Hydrogen Transformation. Can We Overcome Production Roadblocks?

 

“Strike while the iron is hot” – this age-old adage perfectly captures the urgency with which the world is seeking to transition away from fossil fuels and invest in new energy sources with high potential for reducing carbon emissions and becoming the new standard for industrial productivity. Though there’s still much more research and infrastructure needed to seriously consider it as a wide-scale alternative, green hydrogen is a top contender for replacing fossil fuels, particularly in sectors such as transportation and heavy industry.

 

As a clean and sustainable energy source, green hydrogen, which is produced by utilizing renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, presents a viable solution to significantly decarbonize heavy industries and propel us towards a greener industrial future. What roadblocks still remain that are keeping implementers from realizing green hydrogen’s full industrial potential?

 

One primary factor that can potentially delay and hold implementers back seems to be the cost of production. According to a report by research firm S&P Global, to effectively scale up production, the energy market and federal governments need to invest in the necessary infrastructure to support low-carbon emission generation processes to create hydrogen, which currently relies on fossil fuels to power its production. In addition, the report mentions that scaling up the hydrogen economy will likely take investments of $20–$25 billion each year through 2030, which are figures directly taken from the global privately-led Hydrogen Council. On top of that, transport & distribution, safety considerations, and matching supply-demand uncertainties are other hurdles that will play a role in keeping green hydrogen at bay.

 

Sanjay Purswani, Senior Knowledge Analyst at Boston Consulting Group, believes that green hydrogen has the potential to be a game changer for decarbonizing transportation and beyond, but unlocking green hydrogen’s potential comes with challenges that’ll take mass cooperation to overcome.

 

Sanjay’s Thoughts

 

“The global transport and heavy industry sector contributed over 15 and a half gigatons of CO2 emissions in 2020, accelerating climate change and harming our environment. In order to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, about 550 million tons per year of clean hydrogen is needed, out of which about 70% is expected to be green hydrogen.

 

So what is green hydrogen? Green hydrogen is a type of hydrogen produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, or hydroelectric power. The process involves splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen and does not produce harmful emissions. Demand from the transportation and heavy industry is expected to be between 50 to 60% of the overall green hydrogen demand.

 

In transportation, hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and fuel cell trucks can provide a similar range in performance to traditional IC engines but with zero emissions. In heavy industry, green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels in processes such as steel production, chemical manufacturing, and cement production, which can significantly reduce carbon emissions.

 

However, there are several challenges that need to be overcome to make the widespread adoption of green hydrogen a reality. Firstly, the cost of green hydrogen is significantly higher than that of fossil fuels. This means that substantial investment in technology and infrastructure is needed to reduce the cost of production and make green hydrogen competitive with traditional existing fuels.

 

Secondly, the production and transport infrastructure for green hydrogen needs to be developed. This includes the development of efficient electrolyzers to produce hydrogen and the construction of pipelines and storage to transport. And finally, there needs to be a significant increase in the production of renewable energy sources to power the electrolysis process, which requires a large amount of electricity. 

 

Overall, the potential benefits of green hydrogen make it an attractive option for decarbonizing transportation and heavy industry. However, overcoming the challenges of cost, infrastructure, and regulations will require significant investment and collaboration between governments, industries, and different stakeholders. ”

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

rankings
Krow Knows: How Fair Are the College Football Playoff Rankings?
November 22, 2024

The college football playoff rankings generate intense debate as the sport undergoes significant shifts due to conference realignments, NIL deals, and transfer portal dynamics. The dominance of the SEC and Big Ten raises questions about fairness, while committee inconsistencies frustrate fans and analysts. For instance, four of the top five ranked teams hail from…

Read More
OEM in the AV Industry
The Role of OEM in the AV Industry: Shaping Innovation, Quality, and Market Competition
November 22, 2024

As technology reshapes the AV industry, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are emerging as critical partners for businesses seeking tailored solutions. Whether it’s bespoke LED displays or high-end audio systems, OEM in the AV industry is redefining how companies innovate, differentiate, and meet market demands. This raises a crucial question for professionals navigating this space—how…

Read More
Staying Competitive in a Changing Parcel Landscape
Staying Competitive in a Changing Parcel Landscape
November 20, 2024

In the latest episode of On Time in Full, host Gabrielle Bejarano welcomes Satyen Pathak, a Senior Account Executive at Designed Conveyor Systems (DCS), to discuss trends shaping the parcel market and strategies for companies to remain competitive. With over 20 years of industry experience, Pathak shares his insights into the evolving needs within supply…

Read More
blue collar
Building Efficient and Engaged Blue-Collar Workforces Begins with Leadership Rooted in Personal Development
November 20, 2024

According to a study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, over 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could remain unfilled by 2030 due to a lack of skilled talent. This workforce shortage reveals a critical gap in leadership within blue-collar industries. Without strong leadership to develop teams and foster growth, businesses face inefficiencies, low morale, and…

Read More