Hydrogen fuel a ‘dead end’ for net zero
The fuel is expensive, inefficient and associated with worse environmental impacts than other options when it comes to heating and transport, argues Hydrogen Science Coalition
Hydrogen as a fuel for heating and transport is too inefficient and expensive a route for the world to take if it is to reach net zero by 2050, according to David Cebon, a professor at the University of Cambridge and a member of thinktank the Hydrogen Science Coalition. “The most effective use cases for green hydrogen to reduce emissions are exactly what it is used for now,” Cebon argues, highlighting fertilisers, petrochemicals and glass as carbon-intensive sectors where hydrogen is used in vast quantities. Steelmaking, responsible for 7–8pc of global emissions, is a sector where hydrogen could replace coking coal to directly reduce iron. “In all these industrial processes, hydrogen will be
Also in this section
3 May 2024
Australia’s Fortescue and France’s EDF Renewables among the successful bidders as second-round auction draws green hydrogen projects worth about $11b
1 May 2024
High costs and uncertainty over offtake agreements are delaying project investment decisions, according to Aurora Energy Research
1 May 2024
Low clearing prices in first European Hydrogen Bank auction reflect fierce competition for green hydrogen subsidies and buyers’ willingness to pay premium
1 May 2024
Japanese company launches test module at Takasago Hydrogen Park with aim to deploy megawatt-scale demonstration project of electrolyser technology