About the production of hydrogen

Hydrogen was the first element after the Big Bang. It is the most abundant substance in the universe and the most productive source of energy. Hydrogen is available on Earth in almost unlimited quantities, albeit in bound form.

Only the best // Author: Wolfgang Wechselbach

Due to its special physical properties, hydrogen is an almost “permanent gas”. Hydrogen gas can only be liquefied at very low temperatures below -252°C. Due to its low density, H2 is usually stored as a compressed gas. The most characteristic property of hydrogen is its flammability. It is non-toxic and can be produced with almost no emissions using renewable energy sources. Hydrogen is transportable and also easy to store. Hydrogen could therefore solve the energy problems of the future.

Hydrogen, which is produced CO2-free, as well as all related technologies, is viewed and promoted by the public sector as a strategic means of replacing coal and achieving climate goals. The focus here is on switching electricity production to renewable energies. This means that instead of using electricity from conventional energy production for hydrogen production, alternative energy should be used: from wind power, solar or hydropower. The green pioneer is Norway, which has a lot of hydropower. Canada produces its hydrogen using natural gas. Morocco and areas of the Sahara rely on wind power.

In order to quickly advance a global hydrogen economy, synergies must be created - through cooperation between developers, investors, producers, cities, regions and states as well as with relevant economic actors. It is also important to link the production and consumption sectors, but also to coordinate technology providers and investors. In the 1960s and 70s, space travel and dwindling resources fueled hydrogen fantasies. Since the 1990s, hydrogen has been boosted by urgent demand for sustainable energy. In the recent past, the focus has been on the role of hydrogen in an increasingly electricity-based energy economy.

In the last two years, many companies have focused on the development of modified systems that, in combination with renewable energy, have been proven to enable low-cost production of hydrogen and thus a low manufacturing price. At the moment, production costs in Europe are 7.50 euros per kilogram of hydrogen. To produce one kilo of hydrogen, 55 kW/h of electricity is required. This is factored into the price. Medium-sized companies already believe it is possible to produce 1 kg of hydrogen for just 2 euros. But there is a lack of money and capacity to scale up this development.

It would be possible to produce hydrogen less expensively. The start-up Qatar Hydrogen Energy, based in Munich, expects production costs of 2.00 euros per kilogram of high-purity hydrogen. But the public discussion is reduced to the statement “Hydrogen is still too expensive”.

Wolfgang Brückenbach from Qatar Hydrogen Energy gives an example: A small car uses around 5 liters of gasoline to travel 100 kilometers. This corresponds to the efficiency of one kilogram of hydrogen. So you could cover the route for two euros. 5 liters of gasoline have cost 10.50 euros since the beginning of the energy crisis (as of October 31, 2022). With the announcement by the OPEC countries that they will reduce oil production, prices are expected to continue to rise.

There is still a lack of structures to bring hydrogen to where people need it. It is argued that this would be too complicated. But there are solutions there too. A British start-up, for example, B. Containers in which solar cells on the roof are used to generate energy from hydrogen that charges batteries for electric cars. This would make the switch to e-mobility easier.

Of course, such individual examples are inadequate arguments in the larger debate. But one thing is clear: hydrogen will play a significant role in the future energy supply. We now know that Europe will have to import at least 70 percent of its hydrogen by 2030.

You will need hydrogen, whether you understand it or not. One reason for this is that hydrogen is the best way to decarbonize key sectors: the natural gas network, which currently forms the basis for heating 40 percent of EU households and 15 percent of the EU's electricity supply, can be gradually converted to hydrogen. Biogas will not be sufficiently available as a renewable alternative to natural gas. In principle, heat pumps could also be used to supply heat. However, in old buildings, which are responsible for a large proportion of building-related emissions, these can only be used sensibly with extensive renovation measures on the building, the economic viability of which often lags behind the switch to a renewable energy supply. Alternatively, a theoretically conceivable complete electrification of today's natural gas applications would lead to massive network problems given the fluctuating production in a renewable energy industry.

In short: Hydrogen will play an important role in the future energy economy as it creates the necessary flexibility for many sectors. Hydrogen makes it possible to store energy and make it available to various sectors as needed. More on this in the next “Only the Best”.

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Source: onlythebest.de