Minimizing Emissions from Grid-Based Hydrogen Production in the United States

Low-carbon hydrogen could be an important component of a net-zero carbon economy, helping to mitigate emissions in a number of hard-to-abate sectors. The United States recently introduced an escalating production tax credit (PTC) to incentivize production of hydrogen meeting increasingly stringent embodied emissions thresholds. Hydrogen produced via electrolysis can qualify for the full subsidy under current federal accounting standards if the input electricity is generated by carbon-free resources, but may fail to do so if emitting resources are present in the generation mix. While use of behind-the-meter carbon-free electricity inputs can guarantee compliance with this standard, the PTC could also …

The Role of Nuclear Power in the Hydrogen Economy: Cost and Competitiveness

Hydrogen is expected to play important roles in decarbonised energy systems, as an energy source for otherwise hard-to-electrify sectors as well as a storage vector to enhance power system flexibility. However, hydrogen is not a primary energy resource and has to be produced using different chemical processes. Water electrolysis, which uses electricity to split water molecules to extract hydrogen, is expected to become a leading solution in this context. Electrolysis will, however, only be a feasible solution if the electricity used as feedstock comes from low-carbon sources. A significant number of countries are therefore considering a role for nuclear energy …

Risk of the Hydrogen Economy for Atmospheric Methane

Hydrogen (H2) is expected to play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, hydrogen losses to the atmosphere impact atmospheric chemistry, including positive feedback on methane (CH4), the second most important greenhouse gas. Here we investigate through a minimalist model the response of atmospheric methane to fossil fuel displacement by hydrogen. We find that CH4 concentration may increase or decrease depending on the amount of hydrogen lost to the atmosphere and the methane emissions associated with hydrogen production. Green H2 can mitigate atmospheric methane if hydrogen losses throughout the value chain are below 9 ± 3%. Blue H2 …

Renewable Hydrogen in Oregon: Opportunities and Challenges

There is unprecedented interest in hydrogen today for its potential to address climate change. This report presents the findings of the Oregon Department of Energy’s study on renewable hydrogen – what it is, how it’s made, what it might cost, and where it might best fit within the vision for a decarbonized economy in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

This study finds that the likeliest end uses for renewable hydrogen in Oregon by 2030 will be, in relative order of value, as a substitute for fossil hydrogen, to create high-temperature heat for industry, medium- and heavy-duty transportation, production of chemicals …

The Roadmap for a Green Hydrogen Economy in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is at the beginning of an exciting, yet challenging, energy transition journey as a regional energy leader and a powerhouse in petrochemicals. Its oil and gas infrastructure, including storage and export facilities, as well as operational experience gives them a head start when it comes to developing a hydrogen economy.
The energy sector already accounts for 40% of GDP and 80% of export earnings, through the production and exports of oil and gas as well as petrochemicals. This existing heritage and the associated established infrastructure provide Trinidad and Tobago with the key competitive advantage over other nations …

Recommendations for a US Northeast Hydrogen Hub

Climate imperatives, geopolitics, and domestic incentives are spurring widespread interest in hydrogen as a means to decarbonize industrial applications at scale in the United States. Hydrogen is abundant, can be sourced in water, and emits only water vapor and heat. Also, hydrogen can be produced wherever generation exists, allowing for siting close to demand centers and potentially reducing the need for extensive new infrastructure. Tax policy and prevailing economic forces could cause the cost of clean hydrogen to drop precipitously, placing it on equal footing with grey hydrogen in the not-so-distant future.

The US Northeast, in particular, boasts several advantages …

Getting the Hydrogen Network We Need for Decarbonization

Clean hydrogen provides a tool that can open up new opportunities for decarbonisation. But it is just one tool, and an expensive one at that. If policymakers allow, or even support, continuation of the current ‘hydrogen rush,’ we will end up with a larger hydrogen network than needed — with high costs for consumers.

Policymakers have the right tools in their toolbox — including unbundling, transparency requirements and regulatory oversight — to ensure that hydrogen supports rather than hinders decarbonisation efforts. The regulation of the fossil gas sector provides important lessons to be considered for hydrogen regulation. Megan Anderson and …

OurEnergyPolicy Event Summary – Hydrogen and the Energy Transition

This event summary highlights key comments made by hydrogen expert panelists during an OurEnergyPolicy webinar that took place in October 2022. Speakers discussed technological advances, government investments, and economic trends in hydrogen’s emerging role in the energy landscape. Find the recording here.…

Hydrogen Hubs and Demonstrating the Hydrogen Energy Value Chain

Hydrogen hubs are emerging centers of activity involving hydrogen production, transport, delivery, and end use to provide modern energy services such as mobility, goods movement, heat for manufacturing processes, and other services. A future economy using hydrogen as an energy carrier and fuel could offer an alternative method to provide the many modern energy services associated with fossil fuels. In addition to providing a fuel for transportation—one of the larger applications envisaged—hydrogen can support industrial processes or building operations or can become part of the energy infrastructure by storing energy.…

Clean Hydrogen’s Place in the Energy Transition

For many decades fossil hydrogen has been an integral part of our energy society.

From being an essential component for powering the first internal combustion engine more than 200 years ago, to becoming an essential part of the modern agricultural and oil refining industry. 

Since the start of the War in Ukraine natural gas prices, a major feedstock for producing fossil fuel-produced hydrogen (blue and grey), has soared by more than 70% on international markets triggering an energy crisis and pushing lawmakers worldwide to urgently source alternative sources of fuel.

Clean Hydrogen’s Place in the Energy Transition finds the surge …