Future fuel: Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the most abundant substance in the universe. It is extremely combustible and it can be stored under high pressures. Considering chemical properties it is under the spot light as a fuel source. There is no point of denying global warming or other environmental disasters we brought upon ourselves. Starting from this perspective governments and scientists are working around the clock to find an alternative fuel source to fossil fuels and here hydrogen steps up! As the debates going on about it being a “green” energy source industry has already named three different types of hydrogen production.

Grey hydrogen: As the color implicates that something fishy is going on here. Grey hydrogen is produced from natural gas. Separating the chemical composition to CO2 and Hydrogen.

Blue hydrogen: Same principle as grey hydrogen but this time most of the CO² is captured and stored in empty gas beds under North Sea. This method is called CCS: Carbon Capture & Storage. Netherlands is the #1 producer of blue hydrogen worldwide.

Green hydrogen: This might be the most innocent type of hydrogen as it is produced by only renewable energy. Most common way do obtain it is the electrolysis. Electricity is used to split water molecules into H2 (hydrogen) and O2 (oxygen). This type of hydrogen also has advantages. The composition of green hydrogen allows us to use it right after the production without going through any other process. For example use it in fuel cell of a car or burn it to power up a generator for a factory or a whole neighborhood.

Netherlands allows startups and other industry giants to experiment and develop ideas for industrial applications of hydrogen uses. Dutch government and other EU initiatives support these ideas to become an industry standard. Even right now in 2020, mega-watt electrolysis facilities on both offshore and land solving energy related problems by means of wind. Other projects also includes transforming cities into greener and more sustainable. Amsterdam will be free of natural gas by 2040 and we will use energy from hydrogen to heat our homes and cook our food. Transportation is also going to be more greener as hydrogen burning vehicles are already on the roads of Netherlands now.