As the European leader in Technical Service for Responsible Mobility Solutions, TSG enables a more sustainable world. To achieve this, the development of renewable energies is of great importance.
When talking about the tools that are needed to get to a net-zero carbon (which has to achieved in 2050), there is no doubt that hydrogen will play a role. For the next coming years, electrification is going to lead the decarbonization of the world, which TSG supports with our TSG Charge solutions. But in the long term, there is a great potential for a real hydrogen revolution that would play a big role in a decarbonized society.
In this article, we explain how hydrogen fuelling works, what the advantages are and what the current development in the hydrogen industry include.
What is Hydrogen?
First, what is good to understand about Hydrogen is that Hydrogen is an energy carrier, and not an energy source itself. Energy carriers allow the transport of energy in a usable form from one place to another. Hydrogen, like electricity, is an energy carrier that must be produced from another substance.
Hydrogen can be produced from a variety of domestic resources, such as: natural gas, biomass, and renewable power like solar and wind, and can therefore be produced through several methods. The most common methods are: natural gas reforming (a thermal process), and water electrolysis. Other methods include solar-driven and biological processes.
1. Natural gas reforming
This technology consists of reacting methane with water to obtain a synthesis gas containing hydrogen. This is the technology mainly used in the industrial production of hydrogen. The sources are natural gas or biogas. This technology emits CO2. The use of renewable sources such as biomass, biogas (from biomass or waste) or coupling with CO2 capture and storage technologies can improve the carbon footprint of production.
2. Water electrolysis
This technology consists of separating the components of the water molecule (H₂O) which is made up of two hydrogen atoms (H) and one oxygen atom (O). The source is the water, which is subjected to an electric current through two electrodes, dissociates into oxygen and hydrogen gas. The electric current dissociates the water molecule to form dihydrogen (H₂) and dioxygen (O₂). Electrolysis itself releases no CO2.
If the electricity used is produced from sources that do not emit CO2 (renewable energies, such as solar power), the hydrogen will be produced without any greenhouse gas emissions. Electrolysis powered by renewable electricity is therefore a greener technology, also known as Green Hydrogen.
Different colors of Hydrogen
The many ways Hydrogen can be created, results in many types, or ‘colours’, of Hydrogen. Below you find an overview of the different types of Hydrogen.
Source: Global Energy Infrastructure
What are the benefits of using Hydrogen as fuel?
Using Hydrogen as fuel brings many advantages. The most important are:
1. The only emission is water
One of the advantages of hydrogen vehicles is that the only emission that comes out of the tailpipe is pure, drinkable water. This means that as long as the energy used to produce hydrogen is sustainable, hydrogen can be a truly green fuel, which is also known as ‘Green Hydrogen’.
2. Hydrogen has a higher energy density
Another advantage hydrogen has over batteries is that it’s more energy dense, which means that with a very high-pressure storage system, it takes much less space in order to make a vehicle go any distance.
3. It’s faster to refuel
A third advantage is that it takes much less time to refuel a hydrogen car than charging an electric vehicle.
4. Storing surpluses
Hydrogen makes it possible to store the surplus energy produced.
Continuous development on hydrogen solutions
A concern though however is, how much energy it actually takes to create hydrogen. Currently, the energy that is put in to create it is much higher than the energy output. This has to do with the fact that when creating Hydrogen, a current is converted into a matter. This matter is then reconverted into a current, which requires more steps and transformations compared to electric lithium.
The hydrogen market is still very much development, and new ideas and concepts are created to solve current concerns. An innovation in the hydrogen market is liquified hydrogen. Hydrogen that is transported and stored at hydrogen stations is usually in gaseous form. Now, some hydrogen stations are already being supplied with a liquid form of hydrogen, named LH₂. LH₂ allows a higher productivity, and it’s less risky to transport. This liquid technology could be a solution to solve the daily consumption, which will increase significantly in the coming years. LH2 is still in a relatively early stage of development.
Hydrogen is particularly interesting for the heavy transport industry
When compared to electricity, hydrogen is a very attractive proposition for long-distance HGVs, especially when logistical restraints are taken into consideration such as high mileage, high payload and limited time available for recharging. Hydrogen-powered HGVs are able to travel great distances on one tank of energy, with better energy efficiency and zero emissions.
Furthermore, hydrogen lorries have similar operational characteristics to those of diesel. The first experimental hydrogen models can travel 400 to 800 km before refuelling, with an objective to reach in excess of 1000 km prior to the end of the decade. The current refuelling time of hydrogen HGVs is estimated at less than 30 minutes, and as the technology develops, this figure could conceivably be reduced by 65%. As a consequence, it is fair to say the refuelling time and frequency for hydrogen HGVs are directly comparable to those of conventional diesel lorries.
Transitioning the heavy goods vehicle sector and transportation industry to hydrogen fuel would dramatically decrease carbon emissions around the globe.
The future requires a proper Hydrogen station infrastructure
However, much like we see happening around Europe with EVs, is that to get hydrogen to become a standard fuel for the transport industry, the price of the fuel and the hydrogen vehicle needs to be affordable. But more importantly, a proper infrastructure of hydrogen stations is needed in order to refuel a vehicle and continue the journey on the road.
The graph below, which is from Hydrogen Roadmap of the European Commission (2017), sums up the increasing perspectives of the H2 station number (=HRS).
Tailored hydrogen solutions with TSG Gas
TSG participates in the European hydrogen infrastructure network by offering its know-how in technical services for responsible mobility solutions. With TSG Gas, TSG realizes a clean and efficient alternative to traditional fuels. We deliver tailor made hydrogen solutions, including designing, installing, and maintaining your hydrogen installation. More information regarding our services?
