At-a-Glance:
Shell has just flipped the switch on the biggest green hydrogen plant in the EU, and it looks like the oil and gas giant could have a hand in fostering the renewable H2 revolution here in the US, as well. It better ramp up quickly, though. Global demand for hydrogen has tripled since the 1970s and it has nowhere to go but up. To learn more, read “Shell Could Bring EU Green Hydrogen Scheme to US Shores.”
Key Takeaways:
- More sustainable hydrogen sources are finally beginning to emerge, including biomass, biogas, wastewater, waste plastic, and electrolysis, which refers to the process of teasing hydrogen from water with an electrical current.
- Shell built its new green hydrogen plant at its Energy and Chemicals Park in Rheinland, Germany, with a healthy assist from the a consortium of hydrogen stakeholders and the EU’s Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
- Billed as “the first to use this technology at such a large scale in a refinery,” the new electrolysis plant revved up in July at a capacity of 10 megawatts. Plans are already under way to add 90 megawatts more.
- In one especially intriguing indication of surging interest in the US, Texas has launched a study aimed at leveraging its wind and solar resources to produce green hydrogen at scale.
Path to 100% Perspective:
In the energy sector, it is anticipated that green hydrogen will deliver 7 percent of the global energy demand by 2050. Governments will have to invest significant amounts into the infrastructure needed to develop green hydrogen, but those investments require market-ready engines that can run on the fuel once it is readily available. The energy and marine industries are on a decarbonisation journey, and the fuel flexibility of the engines powering these sectors is key to enable the transformation.
Photo by Anton Maksimov juvnsky on Unsplash