UN climate report makes it clear the time for clean hydrogen is now
The time for talking is well and truly over. If it wasn’t clear already, the IPCC’s latest report published Monday says unequivocally the world needs “rapid, deep and immediate” cuts in carbon dioxide emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
To keep global temperatures from rising no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century emissions need to peak by 2025 and shrink by 43% by 2030.
The most effective way of doing that is to ditch fossil fuels as fast as possible and invest in renewable energy, the IPCC report says. That means no more coal-fired power stations and a rapid reduction in use of oil and natural gas.
To keep global temperatures from rising no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century emissions need to peak by 2025 and shrink by 43% by 2030.
While electricity generated from wind and solar are capable of directly powering our homes and business, there are many parts of the economy that cannot be electrified. Heavy industry, such as steel and chemicals manufacturing currently need coal, oil and gas to generate the heat needed in their furnaces and as feedstock for their products.
The only practical and economic way to decarbonise those sectors is with hydrogen, which can be produced by splitting water with renewable energy, producing no greenhouse gas emissions in the process.
Transport, responsible for more than a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse emissions, also needs hydrogen.
Projects that will utilise hydrogen in this way are in progress, but not enough and not yet on a big enough scale.
Transport, responsible for more than a quarter of the UK’s greenhouse emissions, also needs hydrogen. While much of the focus has been on battery-powered electric passenger vehicles, other technologies are needed to decarbonise larger vehicles, maritime transport and aviation and hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen combustion engines are at the top of the list of viable alternatives.
With shortages of battery electric vehicles, the questionable environmental impact of battery production and the risks associated with increasing our reliance on China for battery materials, hydrogen may be the fuel of choice for smaller passenger vehicles as well.
The most effective way of lowering emissions is to ditch fossil fuels as fast as possible and invest in renewable energy, the IPCC report says. That means no more coal-fired power stations and a rapid reduction in use of oil and natural gas.
Hydrogen investment is also needed if we are to increase the amount of wind and solar in our energy mix. Without hydrogen as a long-term storage solution for renewable energy, we will have to either continue to rely on natural gas to meet peak demand, or waste renewable power during periods of low demand.
Hydrogen can also help us heat our homes and commercial buildings using the infrastructure we already have in place for natural gas.
Without hydrogen as a long-term storage solution for renewable energy, we will have to either continue to rely on natural gas to meet peak demand, or waste renewable power during periods of low demand.
To make all this happen, we need domestic hydrogen production and a lot of it. Currently, industry is waiting eagerly for details of the mechanism that is going to make clean hydrogen production economical in the UK.
We cannot wait any longer. The UK needs to invest in hydrogen now if it is to meet its net zero targets and help avert the climate catastrophe the IPCC has been warning us about for so long.
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