Going for Net-Zero by 2050 – Wishful Thinking or Realistic Goal?

(The Topsoe Team/Biofuels Digest) Some would say the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 is a mega-scale challenge requiring mega-scale solutions. Not to mention a healthy dose of optimism. But this is where ultra-low carbon intensity blue hydrogen comes in and gives hope for transforming even the hardest-to-abate sectors.

To hit the 2050 targets of the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to well below 2-degrees Celsius, preferably 1.5-degrees Celsius, hydrogen uptake needs to triple to meet 15% of global energy demand expected by then. (1)

But achieving ambitious climate goals is especially daunting for industries difficult to electrify, like long shipping transport, heavy cement, steel, plastics, and fertilizers. Currently, these industries are responsible for 25% of the total global carbon emissions every year, so successfully decreasing emissions in these sectors would have an immediate and positive effect on the global carbon tally. (6)

But is there a market for blue hydrogen and decarbonizing? Certainly. Indeed, the latest predictions talk about a great need for blue hydrogen production.

“According to Hydrogen Councils thorough projections, it is expected that around 1/3 of the worlds H2 demand in 2050 will be blue H2, while the remaining 2/3 will be classified as green or renewable H2.

But what is also interesting from this forecast, is that within the next 10-15 years, most of the growth within H2 production is expected to be of a blue source. The blue portion of the H2 production will be even greater than the grey or green production, and that is due to fact that the blue H2 technology is more mature than green H2 technology and blue H2 technology is ready at scale.” Source: Hydrogencounsil.com

Many roads lead to decarbonization

The European Commission is currently proposing an update of the Renewable Energy Directive, the likes of which aims to have 40% of all energy consumed by 2030 come from renewable sources. A sub-target stipulates a 13% reduction in carbon intensity (CI) of fuel.

In the US, the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) champions decarbonization across the electricity, transportation, and industrial sectors, among others.

Hydrogen can be stored and transported at high energy density in liquid or gaseous form. It can also be combusted or used in fuel cells which is both a smart and necessary way to satisfy the growing need for non-fossil chemical fuels.

Industries like marine, aviation, transport, and even space are looking at replacing fossil fuels with blue or green hydrogen alternatives.

The blending of hydrogen into existing natural gas networks can also help reduce emissions.

And finally, let us not forget how high-density liquid ammonia derived from blue hydrogen can act as a carbon-free energy carrier. The ammonia can be stored and transported in its liquid state, which contains approximately 48% more hydrogen by volume than hydrogen alone. This makes liquified blue ammonia a safe, cheap and less energy-intensive means of long-distance transport compared to liquified hydrogen.

Blue hydrogen is produced by combining traditional production methods with clean technology innovations: i.e., carbon capture technology can now be added to remove CO₂ from the hydrogen production process. There are several carbon capture technologies available, meaning CO₂ can be removed from the flue gas side, process side and/or hydrogen PSA off-gas side, with the best option mostly depending on the reforming process.

Ultimately, the best technology depends on achieving a certain level of CO₂emission reductions as cost-effectively as possible. Here are two proven technologies to consider:

SynCOR^™– the workhorse of the future

eREACT™ the electric evolution of the world’s most common hydrogen-production method

Be ready for regulations

Wherever your operations are in the world, future proof your business by adopting the technology that can help reduce your carbon footprint significantly while ensuring you always meet targets.

(2): Source: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-directive-targets-and-rules/renewable-energy-directive_en

(5): The Kearny Energy Transition Report: https://www.kearney.com/energy/article/-/insights/energy-transition

/6) https://www.consultancy.eu/news/5643/a-roadmap-for-decarbonising-the-global-road-freight-industry

Going for Net-Zero by 2050 – Wishful Thinking or Realistic Goal?

Many roads lead to decarbonization

SynCOR^™– the workhorse of the future

eREACT™ the electric evolution of the world’s most common hydrogen-production method

Be ready for regulations

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Going for Net-Zero by 2050 – Wishful Thinking or Realistic Goal?

Many roads lead to decarbonization

SynCOR™ – the workhorse of the future

eREACT™ the electric evolution of the world’s most common hydrogen-production method

Be ready for regulations

More than 50,000 articles in our online library!

Advanced Biofuels USA Policy Statements and Handouts!

Our Sponsors

FREE Subscription! Advanced Biofuels USA events calendar; policy and actions; education newsletters

Donate

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CATEGORIES

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SynCOR^™– the workhorse of the future