The Truth Behind The Hydrogen Hype

The Truth Behind The Hydrogen Hype

Hydrogen is being touted as the fuel of the future, but new information suggests hydrogen could have serious implications for the climate. 

By D.S. Mitchell

Maybe Not The Golden Ticket

As the hydrogen hype machine revs up to a roar, investigators are discovering potential, undisclosed  hazards to the climate. Scientists are warning that hydrogen is not the golden ticket to stabilize the earth’s climate that supporters claim. One big problem is that hydrogen leaks and those leaks are harmful to the environment.

EDF’s Solutions Magazine Vol.54 No.2/Spring 2023

Hydrogen’s promise as a climate solution has fascinated Hollywood screenwriters, entrepreneurs, scientists, and governments, including China, India, the U.S. and EU for decades. According to McKinsey  & Co. investment in hydrogen manufacture is coming fast and furious as governments and individuals embrace hydrogen. Over the next decade 680  large scale hydrogen projects will be commenced worldwide at a projected cost of $240 billion.

Zero Carbon? Yes and No.

When hydrogen is burned or used in a fuel cell it produces zero carbon emissions. Wha-hoo, that fact is why hydrogen has become the holy grail of climate friendly energy. But as with all things, not so fast. Pure hydrogen is rarely found in nature. Because of that, hydrogen must be EXTRACTED from another source. Today nearly all hydrogen is extracted from coal and natural gas and that process releases carbon dioxide into the environment. Damn, that doesn’t sound good and it isn’t good. Investigators claim if “hydrogen production were a country it would rank as the world’s fourth largest source of carbon dioxide.” Staggering numbers when the small amount of hydrogen being produced is taken into consideration.

Green Hydrogen

Green hydrogen can be produced from water, using renewable energy. Unfortunately, less than 1% of hydrogen production is green. But, even green hydrogen isn’t harmless. When burned hydrogen creates nitrous oxides. Those pollutants can cause asthma, bronchitis, and heart disease. Furthermore,  hydrogen is leak prone with a potent climate warming effect that is not talked about, but needs to be addressed. As  EDF scientist, Ilissa Ocko said, “If hydrogen is going to deliver what its backers promise, we need to keep it from escaping (leaking) into the atmosphere.”

A Fully Hydrogen Powered World is Unlikely

Currently, hydrogen is used primarily in oil refining and the chemical industry. Otherwise, hydrogen use is on a very small scale in buses, cars, trucks, trains, and homes.  Ocko believes a fully hydrogen powered world is “unlikely and unnecessary.” In most cases renewable electricity is a more efficient choice. If hydrogen isn’t going to be universal where does its production make the most sense? The experts say it makes the most sense in heat-intensive industries, such as cement production, or in ships where electrification is difficult.

Keep ‘Em Close

Scientists are recommending the manufacture of hydrogen be close to where it will be used. It is important to minimize leaks during transportation. Experts agree that a hydrogen system that’s as leaky as the current natural gas system could lead to major problems for the environment and the climate. Locating, measuring, and sealing hydrogen leaks is a critical issue that will need to be solved.

How Dangerous Are Hydrogen Leaks

Hydrogen leaks are a safety hazard because hydrogen gas molecules are tiny and flammable.  Because hydrogen is an indirect greenhouse gas when it leaks it creates a chain of chemical reactions that raise levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Small hydrogen leaks are serious because they exacerbate global warming. Finding those small leaks, until recently was impossible. Today however a new sensor is showing success. By detecting tens of parts per billion of hydrogen within seconds, the sensor represents a technological breakthrough in hydrogen emissions detection. Tianyl Sun, an EDF scientist says, “right now we know very, very little about how much hydrogen leaks. Filling that gap in our understanding is critically important for the climate.”

The Future of Hydrogen

The future of hydrogen is up in the air. Hydrogen can be a key tool to cut climate pollution, but its dangers may outweigh its positives. As with most things, time will tell.