What is hydrogen?
Hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table. It is a gaseous element, very abundant on Earth. Hydrogen is always found in combination with other elements such as oxygen or carbon, so it cannot be taken directly from nature, but must be manufactured.
What is green hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is produced after the decomposition of the water molecule (H2O) in an electrolyzer by means of electrical energy from renewable sources.
What is an electrolyzer?
An electrolyzer is a device capable of splitting water molecules into their constituent oxygen and hydrogen atoms. The bonds between the two elements are very stable and it is necessary to provide electrical energy for this splitting to take place in a process called electrolysis.
Why is hydrogen so important?
80% of the energy we consume in the world is not electrical. In other words, of the various forms of energy available (electricity, heat, fuels, etc.), electricity accounts for only 20% of total consumption. However, the main renewable energy sources generate only electricity.
It is in this space that hydrogen presents itself as the most promising solution in the process of decarbonizing a large part of the 80% of consumption that is currently not electricity but direct fossil fuels (natural gas, coal and oil), as it can displace them as primary sources of energy.
H2 can contribute to decarbonization in two ways:
- As a raw material in industrial chemical processes
- As a substitute for natural gas in heat generation processes
Applications in great industry
Virtually all the hydrogen consumed in the world (around 100 millions of tons per year) is produced in industrial product manufacturing plants, such as ammonia -around 50% of total consumption- and refineries.
- Refining industry: hydrogen is currently used in the processes of removing impurities from crude oil (hydrotreating) or upgrading heavier crudes (hydrocracking), in its feedstock uses.
- Industrial products: hydrogen is used as a feedstock to produce chemical products, especially ammonia and to a lesser extent methanol, which in turn serve as a source for the production of other chemical compounds such as fertilizers, biofuels or plastics:
Ammonia: Ammonia (NH3) is a nitrogen and hydrogen-based chemical compound widely used in the production of fertilizers and industrial chemicals. The vast majority of ammonia currently produced is created from natural gas, which, like methanol, links it directly to greenhouse gas emissions. To produce green ammonia, hydrogen is combined with nitrogen through a process known as Haber-Bosch synthesis.
Approximately 85% of the annual production (about 200 millions of tons) of this compound is used for the production of nitrogen fertilizers. Other uses include the manufacture of plastics, the maritime fuel, textiles and other chemicals.
Methanol: Methanol (CH₃OH) is a chemical compound in high demand due to its many industrial applications: as a solvent, antifreezing, in building materials and in the production of synthetic fuels, among others. Due to its liquid form at room temperature, it is easy to transport and store. To date, the vast majority of methanol produced is generated from natural gas, which links it directly to greenhouse gas emissions.
For the production of green methanol, hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide (CO2) in chemical processes where it is synthesized and distilled.
Around 300 millions of tons are produced annually, destined to produce other chemical compounds such as olefins (ethylene and propylene), key elements for the production of polymers.