Hydrogen is being looked at as an alternative to petroleum and coal in the energy sector. It is three times more efficient than petroleum. 96% of hydrogen fuel used around the globe is produced from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. This is when fossil fuels are mixed with steam and heated to 800°C. We end up with hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2). These gases are then separated. The CO2 is then released into the atmosphere, where it contributes to global warming. Hydrogen can be stored as fuel and used to power everything, from cars to boilers.
Hydrogen is not polluting when it is used as a fuel. It is still considered a gray fuel due to the heavy use of fossil fuels in the manufacturing process. Decomposing water to make hydrogen is the most popular method. This process can be done using fossil fuels. This is how gray hydrogen can be created. This is how blue hydrogen is created if carbon is captured during hydrogen production using this method. This process is expensive, so it is unlikely that it will be implemented.
Japan is working on the blue hydrogen project and has invested billions of dollars.
Japan is currently exploring the potential of Blue Hydrogen as part of its campaign to conserve the environment and other resources. Today, electricity is produced in Japan from coal mines. Japan wants to use hydrogen or ammonia to generate electricity. Japan and Australia collaborated to transform brown coal in Victoria. This project involves liquefying hydrogen to below 253C. It is then transported by a specially-designed ship to Japan.
You can convert old coal mines to burn hydrogen or ammonia. This will result in carbon dioxide. This is the best choice. But the Japanese government has ambitions that go beyond this scope. It aims to become the first "hydrogen economy" anywhere in the world.
Which hydrogen sources can supply the required hydrogen to support the Japanese Zero Carbon Society's goal of meeting this goal? Blue hydrogen is the answer. However, green hydrogen can be made from hydrogen extracted from water using renewable energy sources. It is expensive. Most hydrogen today is produced from coal or natural gas. Although it's inexpensive, it releases a lot of carbon dioxide. These greenhouse gases can be managed and put in the ground. This is called "blue hydrogen".
Japan's nuclear power stations are under greater pressure than Japan's gas-powered power plants. Japan wants to use ammonia and hydrogen instead of closing its coal-powered power plants and converting them into renewable energy sources.
Producing blue hydrogen requires a lot of energy. This process can only store 70 to 75 percent of the energy in natural gas. Blue hydrogen can be used to heat an object, so you will need 25 percent more natural gases to make it.
What Are the Different Types of Hydrogen Fuel?
Grey hydrogen is the most common form of hydrogen fuel. It is made from natural gas which also contains methane and ethane.
Green Hydrogen is a powerful fuel that emits no greenhouse gases. It can power heavy machinery that cannot be powered by solar or wind energy. Combining water will create a carbon-free fuel. This is possible by separating oxygen and hydrogen molecules from electricity from renewable energy sources. It is three times more efficient than the common fuel. Construction of the city of 'Neom in the Red Sea region of the desert of Saudi Arabia is almost complete. Flying automobiles will be part of the city, which is being built at a cost of $500 billion. The fuel will be green hydrogen.
You can make brown hydrogen by heating oil or lignite coal.
Black hydrogen is made with low bituminous coke, which is a substance that looks like tar.
The reaction of steam and methane creates blue hydrogen. This process produces carbon dioxide which is stored.
Green hydrogen is made by separating water into oxygen and hydrogen using carbon-free energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines. This process is carbon neutral. It is costly and will remain so until 2030. This is why blue hydrogen stands out from the rest. The same process is used to produce blue hydrogen. The CO2 that is normally released is kept underground as well as inside the blue hydrogen container.
Blue hydrogen is less expensive now and uses well-established technology. This helps to build the value chain and may help in reducing emissions faster. This means there will be demand for green hydrogen if it is priced fairly.