There is plenty of news from the world of green hydrogen. Hydrogen as a fuel is already a reality in some countries, such as the US, Russia, China, Germany, and France, with other nations going even further in their research.
The versatility offered by hydrogen makes it ideal for specific areas that provide a challenge when it comes to decarbonization, such as heavy industry, aviation, and maritime transport. Recent years have seen the initiation of a number of projects, particularly within the EU, aimed at introducing hydrogen as a fuel for passenger aircraft, although it is likely to be several decades until this becomes a reality.
Research is ongoing into the use of natural gas pipelines to transport hydrogen, although this does require the pipelines to be upgraded. A pilot program in France has already mixed hydrogen into the gas grid of 100 homes. There is also the potential to convert natural gas power plants to burn hydrogen as a backup during spells of excessive demand.
One interesting field of development involves investigation into the possibility of producing green hydrogen through the electrolysis of seawater in order not to further deplete the Earth’s freshwater supplies.
