What does the hydrogen future look like and what are the present possibilities?
Januari 2022 - Hydrogen has been used as a raw material in the (chemical) industry for decades now, but it can also play an important role in the energy transition. The combustion of hydrogen mainly releases water, and depending on the application, nitrogen oxides (NOx) can also be formed. But it is a CO2-free fuel, exactly what we want! What are the pros and cons of hydrogen, which applications are already possible and what does the hydrogen future look like?
Contents
- What is hydrogen?
- What is hydrogen widely used for today?
- What are the different types of hydrogen?
- What are the advantages of hydrogen?
- What are the challenges with hydrogen?
- What can be done with hydrogen now?
- The use of hydrogen in shipping
- Gas generator sets that run on a hydrogen content of up to 25%
- The 100% hydrogen engine
- The hydrogen future: big plans
- More about alternative fuels and energy transition
What is hydrogen?
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and the lightest gas known. It is so light that it only occurs in the outer layers of our atmosphere and then also in very low concentrations, about 0.5 parts per million (PPM).
So to be able to use hydrogen, you have to make it first (which makes it an energy carrier, it’s not an energy source). This is possible with the processes described under ‘What are the different types of hydrogen?’
Hydrogen is colourless and odourless, so you need equipment to detect it. By giving the odourless hydrogen a recognisable odour, just like natural gas, any dangerous situations can be detected in time. Unfortunately, it is not possible to use the same odorant as in natural gas, because then problems arise when it is used for fuel cells. Research is being conducted into the use of other odorants.
In addition, hydrogen ignites about 15 times easier than natural gas and is explosive in air at concentrations of 4 to 74%. In the case of natural gas, this is 5 to 15%. You also have to take into account that hydrogen burns with a barely visible flame, which is difficult when you have to fight it. It is an advantage that hydrogen is so light: it rises and spreads quickly. This reduces the risk in the case of smaller leaks.
What is hydrogen widely used for today?
Hydrogen is used in many industrial processes, for example, for plastics and the production of methanol or ammonia, which in turn is needed to make fertiliser. Oil companies also use hydrogen to remove sulphur from crude oil and to extract more petrol from petroleum.
What are the different types of hydrogen?
There is only one kind and that is hydrogen. However, there are different ways to produce hydrogen. To indicate this, different colours are used in the name.
Grey hydrogen
Almost all hydrogen currently produced is ‘grey’ hydrogen. It is so called, because the production process is not sustainable. Natural gas is converted into hydrogen at high temperatures, releasing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2).
Blue hydrogen
In the case of ‘blue’ hydrogen, 80 to 90% of the CO2 emitted during the production process is captured and stored, which could be done, for example, in empty gas fields under the North Sea. Blue hydrogen is not yet produced on a large scale anywhere.
Green hydrogen
‘Green’ hydrogen is produced by gasifying biomass or using sustainable electricity through electrolysis. Electrolysis is a chemical reaction in which water (H2O) is split into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2) using ‘green’ electricity. Experiments are under way in the Netherlands with electrolysers on a megawatt scale.
Turquoise hydrogen
‘Turquoise’ hydrogen is extracted from natural gas via the Molten Metal Pyrolysis technology, which is still in the laboratory phase. When natural gas is passed through molten metal, hydrogen and solid carbon are released. This carbon can be used in, for example, car tyres. But this technology is really still in its infancy. [source: TNO]
What are the advantages of hydrogen?
No CO2 emissions
Unlike natural gas and oil, hydrogen does not contain CO2. No CO2 is emitted when hydrogen is burned. When it is used in an engine, a boiler or an oven, nitrogen oxides (NOx) are released. Producing electricity by reacting hydrogen in a fuel cell with oxygen is cleaner, the only ‘emission’ is water.
Burns at high temperatures
Many processes in blast furnaces, refineries and in the chemical industry require a high temperature. Currently, this is achieved by burning natural gas. Thus, a maximum temperature of about 1880°C can be reached but with hydrogen, it can rise to about 2045°C. No wonder that this is interesting for the aforementioned processes.
Raw materials for alcohol fuels
Hydrogen and CO2 can be used to produce methanol, among other things. Methanol, the simplest alcohol we know, is suitable as fuel for combustion engines adapted for this purpose. In addition, liquid methanol is easier to transport than hydrogen, because it does not require high pressure to keep it liquid. Green methanol is therefore a good solution for CO2-neutral driving or sailing.
Raw material for ammonia
Hydrogen is also a raw material for ammonia. It is made under high pressure from hydrogen and nitrogen, using a catalyst. The storage of ammonia in liquid form is comparable to LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). Very strict safety requirements apply because it is so toxic. It is flammable and systems for use as marine engine fuel are currently being developed.
What are the challenges with hydrogen?
Relatively high conversion and total loss
Hydrogen production from electricity has a conversion loss of approximately 35%. If you add to that the energy required for compression or liquefaction and transport, the total loss quickly comes to 50% or more. Then you have to turn it into electricity again, which also entails a loss: 50 to 60%. In the best case scenario, for every 100 kWh you started with, only 20 to 25 kWh will be left!
A much-discussed idea is therefore to convert surplus wind and/or solar energy into hydrogen. However, the required electrolysers and compressors and the storage of hydrogen require a considerable investment. Whether the benefits of this solution can outweigh the costs for the few hours a day that there is actually an electricity surplus remains to be seen for the time being. If the surpluses increase in the future, if there is a surplus for more hours and if as a result, the electricity price is lower, this will become more interesting.
3 Times the volume required for the same power
Just like natural gas, hydrogen is calculated in kilograms and not in litres. The weight of a gas is independent of pressure and temperature. Calculating in litres would otherwise result in constantly varying amounts of energy.
Below is an example to give you an impression of the volume difference between natural gas and hydrogen. For the same amount of energy, you need 3 kg of Groningen natural gas versus 1 kg of hydrogen, but in volume (1 bar, 0°C), it is exactly the other way around: almost 3 m3 of hydrogen for 1 m3 of Groningen natural gas.
| Groningen natural gas | Hydrogen |
| 1 m3 Groningen natural gas weighs approx. 840 gram | 1 m3 of hydrogen weighs approx. 90(!) gram |
| the energy in 840 grams of Groningen natural gas is 31.7 megajoules (MJ) | the energy in 90 grams of hydrogen is 10.8 megajoules (MJ) |
| converted into kilos, 1 kg of natural gas from Groningen has almost 38 MJ | converted into kilograms, 1 kg of hydrogen has almost 120 MJ |
What can be done with hydrogen now?
Currently, green hydrogen is mainly being looked at as a replacement for natural gas and car fuel. The application of hydrogen is still small-scale, because many new techniques have to be applied for its use. In addition, not enough green hydrogen is produced, because the production capacity is still insufficient. However, this does not alter the fact that there are already quite a few options for using hydrogen, or fuels that have hydrogen as a basic component. For example, there are already cars on the market that run on pure hydrogen.
The use of hydrogen in shipping
Many preparations are under way in the shipping industry in connection with the switch from diesel oil to methanol, but we’re also looking into hydrogen. Hydrogen may be an option for local shipping traffic such as harbour tugs and ferries, which can refuel frequently.
Partly switching to hydrogen with, for example, only the auxiliary engines, which also contributes to the decarbonisation of the transport sector, is another option.
In the coming years, several hydrogen demo projects will be rolled out in the shipping industry, such as a container ship that uses fuel cells, batteries and liquid hydrogen storage.
Gas generator sets that run on a hydrogen content of up to 25%
Caterpillar doesn’t sit still either. Gas engines can already be made suitable for blending up to 25% volume of hydrogen (for the CG132B/TCG 3016, CG170B/TCG 3020 & CG260/TCG 2032 series). To operate existing generator sets with hydrogen content up to 25%, minor design changes from the previous design are necessary. The required changes are contained in an upgrade kit, which is expected to be available by the end of 2022.
The 100% hydrogen engine
Caterpillar started offering generator sets that can run on 100% hydrogen on a design-to-order basis in Q4 2021.
In appearance, this engine strongly resembles a ‘normal’ gas engine, but many parts have been significantly modified. This is necessary because of the extremely fast combustion (high flame speed) of hydrogen and the fact that it can be ignited so easily.
As an official dealer of Caterpillar machines, engines and power systems, we are of course proud and happy with the development of this new hydrogen engine. It is yet another step in the energy transition.
The hydrogen future: big plans
Rotterdam has developed a plan to become a sustainable industry cluster in 3 steps. The intention is to distribute hydrogen on a large scale from 2030.
For the Rotterdam-Moerdijk industrial cluster, the main focus is on expanding the energy infrastructure. Examples include heat networks, CO2 transport & storage infrastructure, steam networks, upgrading the electricity network for the electrification of industry and expanding the hydrogen network.
Gasunie has plans to build the largest green hydrogen project in Europe in Eemshaven. The hydrogen produced there will mainly be supplied to industry.
Facts & figures
15x
Hydrogen ignites about 15 times easier than natural gas.
4 to 74%
Hydrogen ignites about 15 times easier than natural gas.
2045°C
With hydrogen, a maximum temperature of approximately 2045°C can be reached.
30%
Hydrogen production from electricity has a conversion loss of approximately 30%.
1/3
Because hydrogen is so light, one m3 contains only 1/3 of the energy contained in one m3 of natural gas.
-254°C
To keep hydrogen liquid, you must store it refrigerated below -254°C.
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