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Green Hydrogen: Technology for a Better Tomorrow

By Gonzalo Azcárraga - Sener Ingenieria
Managing Director Mexico

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By Gonzalo Azcárraga | Managing Director Mexico - Tue, 02/14/2023 - 16:00

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According to the United Nations (UN), greenhouse gas concentrations are at their highest level in 2 million years, and emissions continue to rise. As a result, the last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record, according to the UN.

Additionally, the consequences of climate change include, among others, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, sea level rise, floods, melting ice at the poles, catastrophic storms, and decreased biodiversity.

On the other hand, activities related to energy (processing, transformation, consumption) represent 80% of CO2 emissions worldwide, according to theMinistry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.

Necessity

This context demands a structural change that allows the development of an economy based on clean alternative energies to depend less and less on fossil fuels, reduce emission levels and have low-cost energy for the entire population. Decarbonization, which consists of reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, and the energy transition are essential. To this end, a series of strategies, regulations and policies are being promoted in favor of progress and the renewal of methodologies to achieve a common long-term goal: the 2050 objective.

The 2050 Objective is a long-term strategy to achieve a competitive, modern and neutral economy from the climatic point of view; that is, one that emits the minimum emissions into the atmosphere. This means that Europe has committed to ensuring that, by 2050, the entire industry will be climate neutral, meaning it does not suppose an apex of increase in CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. For this, it is necessary to reduce emitting energy sources almost to non-existence — fundamentally those that come from the combustion of fossil matter — and broaden the spectrum of renewable and non-emitting energies.

The main sectors responsible for carbon emissions are industry, power generation, transport, agriculture and construction. For this reason, the main strategies proposed by the 2050 Objective focus their purposes on these fields.

Solution

Green hydrogen is one of the main pillars to achieve the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, protecting the population and the environment.

Given its versatility and scalability, green hydrogen could be a turning point in the decarbonization of the entire economy, especially in sectors that are difficult to electrify. Thanks to its potential as a raw material, energy vector and storage medium, hydrogen offers the possibility of decarbonizing not only the energy sector, but also other important sectors of the economy, such as transport, industry or energy solutions in infrastructure and construction. In addition, it opens up new clean alternatives in sectors like energy-intensive industries or long-distance transport, where electrification is only partially possible.

Green Hydrogen Generation

Electrolysis is positioning itself as the most promising solution for the massive generation of green hydrogen. It is a technique that, by applying an electric current, separates water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. In this context, it is critical to work on solutions for the efficient integration of electrolysis equipment, from the generation of hydrogen and the adequate supply of water and electricity to the subsequent phases of compression, storage and use, including its possible transformation into other products. In this way, and by providing intelligence and manageability to the system, it is possible to maximize the overall efficiency of the solution without losing flexibility.

Added to this, there are other efficient technologies for obtaining green hydrogen from bioalcohols or ammonia, which provide a hydrogen recovery solution where there is not enough renewable electricity.

Storage, Transport and Uses 

The economy based on green hydrogen faces not only the challenge of profitable generation but also its safe storage and transportation, which implies a substantial impact on the cost of the final product. Currently, we are working on the optimization of these processes by applying the existing experience in the market.

But all this deployment of infrastructure necessary to develop a hydrogen market that allows the fulfillment of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires developing technologies and solutions. For this reason, we are working on the design of ships that allow the transport of hydrogen, on efficient ammonia cracking and bioalcohol reforming technologies, which contribute to the availability of green hydrogen in places where renewable electricity generation is limited, or where the use of one of these carriers contributes to optimizing solutions; for example, for the generation of hydrogen on board ships or trains.

Mexico as a Paradise of Renewable Energy

Mexico, due to its geographical location and climate, is a paradise for renewable generation, with abundant solar radiation, uninhabited surface with wind resources and geothermal energy, among others. The resources for clean energy are of dimensions that are difficult to find  in any other region of the world. In addition, its geographical location between two oceans and in the center of the American continent could position Mexico as a world producer of clean energy. Within the context of decarbonization in Europe, being able to count on a transportable, clean energy source could be a great opportunity for Mexico.

What is needed? A means of clean energy transportation that could well be green hydrogen along with vision and political will. The technology has already arrived.

There are many associations, such as the Mexican Hydrogen Association, that are working to make this happen. There is a lot of work being done that we hope will take root and bear fruit. I believe that the future of humanity is always in our hands.

Photo by:   Gonzalo Azcárraga

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