Hydrogen Solutions Required
While energy efficiency, electrification and renewables can achieve 70 percent of the mitigation needed to reach net zero by 20504, hydrogen-based integrated solutions across four key areas will be needed to decarbonize end uses where other options are less mature or more costly, such as the production of derivatives, heavy industry, long-haul transport and energy storage.
Derivatives Production
Hydrogen plays an unavoidable role in the production of ammonia, methane and methanol as key ingredients. Here the migration from natural gas will enable further energy security and energy access to a carbon neutral future. The demand for ammonia is growing as new applications, apart from fertilizers, are developed and methanol is an attractive path for carbon neutral fuels- efuels.
Heavy Industry
Steel and cement manufacturing typically feature high-temperature processes that are difficult to electrify directly, resulting in high CO2 emissions. These ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors are therefore attractive candidates for green hydrogen power and require reliable hydrogen supply systems and advanced process controls to maintain production efficiency.
Transportation
Long-haul shipping and heavy-duty vehicles – including trains and trucks – need efficient fuel cell systems, safe storage solutions, and reliable power conversion technologies to make hydrogen a viable alternative to conventional fuels.
Power Generation
Using hydrogen for energy storage requires efficient conversion systems between electricity and hydrogen, sophisticated energy management, and integration with renewable power sources.