Green Hydrogen Worldwide Impact to Unlock a Carbon-Free Future

Green hydrogen is environmentally friendly due to its zero emissions which neutralizes the environmental impact and hence control climate change. This paper aims to throughout light on green hydrogen production method which is water electrolysis, green hydrogen applications, production opportunities worldwide and the challenges in pursuit of a green hydrogen economy.

Hydrogen can contribute to energy security by providing another energy carrier with different supply chains, producers and markets. Hydrogen is attracting more interest because it has energy-dense and low-carbon fuel. Green hydrogen can be produced using water electrolysis method where water decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen by passing a direct current through solar or wind energy which drives electrochemical reactions. Furthermore, green hydrogen production can be achieved using water thermolysis method where thermal energy is the driving energy. Thermal energy thermolysis water steam is brought to temperatures of over 2500 K at which water molecule decomposes thermally.

The expected reduction in greenhouse gases is about 60% to 80% by 2050 through using hydrogen as pioneered energy efficient alternative power source to vehicle engines. Low variable renewable energy electricity cost is considered one of the opportunities for green hydrogen production with the continuously decreasing costs of solar PV from 250 $/MWh to 56 $/MWh and of wind electricity from 75 $/MWh to 48 $/MWh. There are a few barriers to be knocked down before the commercial aspect of green hydrogen is advanced; the cost of renewable energies needs to be viable itself as green hydrogen produced using electricity from renewable energy plant would be two to three times more expensive than grey hydrogen. Lack of dedicated infrastructure where only about 5 000 kilometres (km) of hydrogen transmission pipelines around the world compared with more than 3 million km for natural gas. Green hydrogen incurs significant energy losses at each stage of the value chain. About 30-35% of the energy used to produce hydrogen through electrolysis is lost. Storage of hydrogen as a liquid requires cryogenic temperatures which is very challenging.