What is Hydrogen Energy?

By Ibtisam AbbasiReviewed by Laura ThomsonUpdated on Jan 2 2025

As a unique energy source with almost zero harmful emissions, hydrogen is central to the energy sector. The demand for hydrogen as an energy source is expected to increase by more than seven times by 2040. However, hydrogen is not naturally available in a usable form for energy storage technology; rather, it must be produced by chemical processes, giving rise to some financial, technical, and safety concerns among the experts.^{2 ​​​​​​}

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The Hydrogen Energy Industry Chain

The energy chain is limited to the production of hydrogen and involves various sub-categories, including upstream hydrogen production techniques, mid-process hydrogen energy storage, and efficient transportation, followed by downstream applications.³

A Brief Historical Perspective of Hydrogen

In 1875, Jules Verne published his book describing water broken down into constituents, hydrogen and oxygen, using external energy as the main energy source in the future. Hydrogen has been utilized for the last 100 years, but its uses have varied during each technological and industrial era.⁴

During the 1800s and 1900s, hydrogen was the main lighting and heat source for homes and furnaces. Major progress occurred in the mid-20^th century when NASA used hydrogen as a fuel source for space rockets. In the modern industrial revolution era, the main focus is on using hydrogen as fuel, especially in fuel cells, to produce electricity. The widespread adoption of hydrogen is due to its abundant availability and emission-free operations.⁵

How is Hydrogen Energy Produced?

Hydrogen can be produced using fossil fuels, conventional sources, or some sort of renewable energy source. The most widely adopted technique is steam reforming, where hydrogen atoms are separated from methane.

Electrolysis or water splitting is another technique extensively used by experts worldwide. A direct current is applied to water to release the constituent hydrogen and oxygen.⁶ The alkaline water treatment involves two non-platinum group metal electrodes capable of producing hydrogen in significant quantities.

Another major technology involves using proton exchange membranes (PEMs), which are utilized efficiently in electrolyzers to produce hydrogen. Nafion^TM and Nafion^TM-based membranes characterized by excellent electrical conductivity, superior mechanical attributes, and robustness are employed by industrial experts for efficiently generating hydrogen.⁷

Photolysis of water is another major procedure, where water molecules absorb energy at around 285.57 kJ/mole using ultraviolet radiations. The breaking of H-O bonds by high energy bonds releases hydrogen in the presence of catalysts, including tin oxide, sulfur oxides, etc.⁸

In recent years, biomass has emerged as a more promising alternative to fossil fuels for hydrogen production due to its abundant reserves, ease of oxidation, and high annual output. Various biomass-based methods for hydrogen production include the thermochemical conversion of wood waste, waste treatment processes, and fermentation of microalgae and cassava. Both biological and thermochemical approaches effectively produce hydrogen while minimizing harmful emissions and waste, making them environmentally friendly options for sustainable hydrogen production.⁹

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Applications of Hydrogen

The United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) involve a major one focusing on advancing clean energy technology, making hydrogen energy a front-runner.

Energy systems and fuel cells

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has highlighted that several natural gas-fired power plants have resorted to hydrogen to replace natural gas. In fuel cells, hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce energy just like a conventional battery, without any harmful emissions.

A major application in the modern era involves using hydrogen fuel cell power plants, particularly for producing electricity. By the end of March 2024, the United States had approximately 210 operational fuel cell electric power generators spread across 151 facilities, collectively offering around 384 megawatts (MW) of total nameplate electric generation capacity.¹⁰

Hydrogen transportation

Applying hydrogen energy for fuel to power vehicles is another promising prospect. Hydrogen energy systems are gaining interest as an alternative transportation fuel due to their ability to power fuel cells in zero-emission vehicles, which produce no air pollutants. Hydrogen fuel cells are significantly more efficient than traditional internal combustion engines, with an efficiency two to three times higher when running on gasoline.

Uses in crude oil refining

Modern oil refining industries also rely on hydrogen to transform crude untreated oil into a useful fuel mixture. In the refining plants, crude oil extracted from fossil fuel sources is blended with hydrogen. Crude oil can be transformed into useable petrol and fuel by removing sulfur, which is possible by bonding hydrogen and sulfur. The bonding leads to the formation of hydrogen sulfide, which is easily extracted from the fuel by physiochemical separation.

Uses in ammonia production

Hydrogen is also used in ammonia production plants, where it proves to be a catalyst. Ammonia production is expected to increase by more than 40% by 2050, with experts focusing on using sustainable chemicals. With a significant focus on reducing carbon emissions, clean hydrogen is crucial for promoting sustainability in industrial processes, particularly ammonia production.¹¹

What are the Problems with Hydrogen Energy?

A major challenge with hydrogen energy is the high cost associated with its production, specialized storage, and transportation compared to conventional sources.

Developing specialized hydrogen energy systems infrastructure involves significant initial investments to establish efficient zero-emission production facilities, leakage-free eco-friendly storage systems, distribution networks, and refueling stations. Governments and private companies must allocate substantial resources to realize this vision. These investments are essential to reduce the overall costs associated with hydrogen and facilitate its adoption as a mainstream energy solution.

Furthermore, the safety concerns regarding the highly flammable nature of hydrogen are a significant hurdle in its widespread adoption and rapid commercialization. This necessitates the need for public awareness and implementing strict safety regulations focused on the use of hydrogen.¹²

Future Prospects for Hydrogen Energy

Experts hope to see the rise of a “hydrogen economy” just like the rise of the oil-gas economy. Hydrogen fuel sources are expected to be essential for major industries such as the aviation and aerospace industry, metallurgy, and machine manufacturing. Furthermore, reviewing the success of hydrogen in major industries, other industries, such as fertilizer production and modern medicine, are also trying to utilize clean hydrogen in their operations.¹³

Green hydrogen is gaining momentum and is the future. Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources like solar, wind, or hydropower. This sustainable approach holds immense potential to decarbonize key sectors such as transportation, industry, and power generation, making green hydrogen the most critical future technology.¹⁴

As the hydrogen-powered future becomes a staggering reality, decent investments are needed in technological advancements and to ensure the cost-effectiveness of hydrogen energy systems. Furthermore, much research is needed to ensure the efficient integration of hydrogen into existing energy systems and to develop modern infrastructure. With international cooperation and collaborations on the rise, it is clear that hydrogen will prove to be a clean and sustainable energy source.

Read More: Will Hydrogen Satisfy Enough Global Energy Demand by 2050?

References and Further Reading

1. Zou, C. et al. (2022). Industrial status, technological progress, challenges, and prospects of hydrogen energy. Natural Gas Industry B, 9(5), 427-447. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ngib.2022.04.006
2. Filippov, S. et al. (2021). Hydrogen energy: Development prospects and materials. Russian Chemical Reviews, 90(6), 627. https://doi.org/10.1070/RCR5014
3. Yu, M. et al. (2021). Insights into low-carbon hydrogen production methods: Green, blue and aqua hydrogen. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46(41), 21261-21273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.04.016
4. Rechreche, J. et al. (2023). The story of hydrogen and why it matters. Proton Ventures. [Online]. Available at: https://protonventures.com/news/the-story-of-hydrogen-and-why-it-matters/ [Accessed on: November 18, 2024].
5. Atco (2023). The History of Hydrogen. [Online]. Available at: https://www.atco.com/en-au/for-business/hydrogen/Hydrogen-History.html#:~:text=Heating%3A%20In%20the%20early%201900s,fuel%20for%20rockets%20and%20spacecraft. [Accessed on: November 19, 2024].
6. Chi, J. et al. (2018). Water electrolysis based on renewable energy for hydrogen production. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 39(3), 390-394. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1872-2067(17)62949-8
7. Ahmad K. et al. (2021). Membrane-based electrolysis for hydrogen production: A review. Membranes, 11(11), 810. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes11110810
8. Martinez-Burgos, W. et al. (2021). Hydrogen: Current advances and patented technologies of its renewable production. Journal of Cleaner Production, 286, 124970. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124970
9. Agyekum E. et al. (2022). A Critical Review of Renewable Hydrogen Production Methods: Factors Affecting Their Scale-Up and Its Role in Future Energy Generation. Membranes. 12(2). 173. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes12020173
10. United States Energy Information Administration (2024). Hydrogen explained - The Uses of hydrogen. [Online]. Available at: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/hydrogen/use-of-hydrogen.php [Accessed on: November 20, 2024].
11. Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA). (2024). Hydrogen In Industrial Applications. [Online]. Available at: https://fchea.org/learning-center/hydrogen-in-industrial-application/ [Accessed on: November 20, 2024].
12. Hassan, Q. et al. (2024). Hydrogen energy horizon: balancing opportunities and challenges. Energy Harvesting and Systems. 11(1). 20220132. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1515/ehs-2022-0132
13. Le, P. et al. (2023). The current status of hydrogen energy: an overview. RSC Advances, 13(40), 28262-28287. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1039/D3RA05158G
14. Hassan, Q. et al. (2024). Green hydrogen: A pathway to a sustainable energy future. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 50, 310-333. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.08.321

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