The Hike to Hydrogen Sustainability - IDTechEx Explores Green Hydrogen

Green hydrogen is an up and coming zero-emission technology helping to boost decarbonization efforts within the energy sector. Being produced without the use of fossil fuels, the technology can provide a sustainable means of extracting the versatile benefits of hydrogen as an energy source with a positive environmental impact. IDTechEx's portfolio of Hydrogen Research Reports covers uses and applications for green hydrogen, alongside main methods of production and material requirements.

 

 

Acting as an alternative to heavy vehicle batteries or playing a part in steel production are two of the main future applications for green hydrogen expected to see uptake in the medium term between 2030 and 2040, according to IDTechEx. In trucks and lorries that carry out long haul journeys, hydrogen fuel cells could provide longer ranges, and replace heavy batteries to increase efficiency with their decreased weight and short refuelling times when compared with battery recharging. Within the steel market, green hydrogen could be used as a reducing agent within a furnace. This sustainability switch would then lead to the creation of green steel as a result, which can boast the same sustainability claims in its production processes as green hydrogen.

 

Providing large scale renewable energy storage will be another main use for green hydrogen slightly further into the future, as it is able to be stored for long periods, and could emerge alongside aviation applications also, where planes could be redesigned to be fuelled with hydrogen and release only water vapour emissions. The earliest adoption of green hydrogen in industry is expected to be within fertilizer and chemical manufacturing companies that utilize hydrogen as a chemical feedstock, such as in ammonia production. In these contexts, green hydrogen can be swapped in with little need for infrastructure changes.

 

 

Water electrolysis, the method of producing green hydrogen, involves the splitting of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen counterparts using renewable electricity. IDTechEx's report, "Green Hydrogen Production & Electrolyzer Market 2024-2034: Technologies, Players, Forecasts", provides in depth research into the types of electrolyzers involved with the production of green hydrogen, and includes overviews into their main benefits and potential drawbacks.

 

Electrolyzers, created from multiple individual cells, can be categorized by the materials and components used to split water molecules, using different electrolyte or membrane types. The cells each have two electrodes, an electrolyte, transport layers, and bipolar plates, and are designed to optimize the movement of water through the cells and to manage gas flow. Many cells together form a stack, which then come together to create an electrolysis plant, alongside additional systems for water purification, gas handling, power control, and thermal management.

 

IDTechEx has found proton exchange membrane electrolysis (PEMEL) as a means to providing industry-leading current densities which can provide compact system designs and result in smaller footprints. Alongside alkaline water electrolysis (AWE), PEMEL dominates the market where commercial installation is concerned, while other types such as anion exchange membrane electrolysis (AEMEL) and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) are up and coming as options with the potential for improved performance qualities.

 

The various components of an electrolyzer, including the electrodes and electrolyte, need to each carry out their role efficiently in order to help effectively bring down energy consumption and overall costs. The managing of heat and pressure within the system is also necessary to create the optimal operational conditions. The report, "Materials for Green Hydrogen Production 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts", covers the material makeup for the various electrolyzer types.

 

Across the green hydrogen market, infrastructure developments and access to renewable energy sources will be some of the major factors to be considered where green hydrogen developments are concerned, alongside increasing investments into renewable energy. For more information, visit IDTechEx's portfolio of Hydrogen Research Reports.