Green hydrogen is made by using clean electricity from surplus renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, to electrolyse water. Thus, green hydrogen is any hydrogen that is produced from renewable energy.
Electrolysers use an electrochemical reaction to split water into its components of hydrogen and oxygen, emitting zero-carbon dioxide in the process.
Various uses of Green Hydrogen
Industry: Oil refining, ammonia production, methanol production, steel production etc.
Buildings: Hydrogen could be blended into existing natural gas networks, with the highest potential in
multifamily and commercial buildings, particularly in dense cities.
Power generation: Hydrogen is one of the leading options for storing renewable energy, and hydrogen and ammonia can be used in gas turbines to increase power system flexibility.
Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV): A fuel cell uses the chemical energy of green hydrogen or other fuels to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity. If hydrogen is the fuel, the only products are electricity, water, and heat. Thus, it is completely environment friendly with no tailpipe emissions other than water.
Fuel for internal combustion : Green hydrogen can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion by a hydrogen combustion engine (HCE). HCE is an engine that uses hydrogen (H2) as fuel. It is a modified gasoline-powered engine but doesn’t emit any carbon-based pollution, which is a big benefit towards carbon neutrality. HCEs operate similarly to 4-stroke gasoline engines (ICEs). But compared to gasoline, which has an octane rating of 90 (for premium gasoline), hydrogen has a higher-octane number of 130. Hydrogen has a wide flammability range in comparison with all other fuels. As a result, hydrogen can be combusted in an internal combustion engine over a wide range of fuel-air mix-tures. A significant advantage of this is that hydrogen can run on a lean mixture.
Blended with natural gas : Hydrogen produced through clean pathways can be injected into natural gas pipelines, and the resulting blends can be used to generate heat and power with lower emissions than using natural gas alone. NTPC Ltd has commissioned India’s first green hydrogen blending project. The green hydrogen blending has been started in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas township, Surat.
Also refer Types of Hydrogen Fuel Explained https://fotisedu.com/types-of-hydrogen-fuel-explained/
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
QUES . With reference to green hydrogen, Consider the following statements : UPSC 2023
1 . It can be used directly as a fuel for internal combustion.
2 . It can be blended with natural gas and used as fuel for heat or power generation.
3 . It can be used in the hydrogen fuel cell to run vehicles.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Ans (c)
QUES . Consider the following heavy industries: UPSC PRELIMS 2023
1 . Fertilizer plants
2 . Oil refineries
3 . Steel plants
Green hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in decarbonizing how many of the above industries?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Ans (c)
