High Hopes for Hydrogen: The Future of Renewable Energy
Modern society’s reliance on fossil fuels results from a desire for an inexpensive and abundant energy source. Fast-forward to today, and we’re chasing the electric dream without stopping to consider how we can sustainably support it.
In recent years, Electric Vehicles (EVs) have taken the spotlight. Many countries such as the U.K. and Japan have pledged to ban gasoline car sales over the next few decades. While divesting from gasoline is vital to reduce carbon emissions, the lithium-ion-batteries that power most EVs have their own set of challenges. Mainly, to sustainably source enough lithium, or “white gold,” to satisfy the increasing global demand for these batteries.
It is estimated that in the next decade, demand for lithium will rise ninefold as EV manufacturing capacity continues to expand. Mining hotspots like Australia and Portugal are facing pressure to better regulate the industry and ensure efficacy, but concern extends beyond just lithium. Batteries require other finite resources such as cobalt, nickel, phosphorus and aluminum. There is also increased uncertainty about the lifespan of batteries and a lack of infrastructure to recycle them.
Even as the disastrous effects of non-renewable energy consumption loom over our planet, we are setting up to once again rely on finite resources. Fortunately, many car companies are now exploring an alternative energy source that has the same promise of power, without the need for as many precious metals.
This alternative energy is right under our nose and coming out of our taps — it is almost everywhere we look. The most abundant clean fuel in the universe, hydrogen generates electricity through its minimal yet powerful atomic structure: a single proton and one electron. When separated, the flow of electrons can be harnessed in a fuel cell with the capacity to generate one volt of electricity. Individual fuel cells are then stacked atop one another to generate larger amounts of voltage, powering anything from a laptop to a fully equipped home.
Both Toyota and Hyundai have released hydrogen fuel cell models that can travel the same distance as gas vehicles and are two to three times more energy-efficient than a traditional combustion engine. Contrary to lithium-ion-batteries, fuel cells also don’t run down or require recharging. They will keep producing electricity so long as they are supplied with hydrogen.
Hydrogen is safer than nuclear energy and natural gas in terms of extraction and storage; the reaction of hydrogen and electric charge does not generate harmful byproducts, only heat and water. Aeronautical companies have been able to use this water product for astronauts aboard space stations, while the heat generated can be used in place of natural gas to warm buildings.
The Canadian Government recently unveiled its new hydrogen strategy in an attempt to meet climate targets. This plan aims to have clean burning fuel provide up to 30% of Canada’s energy needs by 2050. Moreover, the government confirmed that the hydrogen available in Canada has the capacity to create 350,000 jobs and is estimated to be worth a staggering $50 billion – a sizable chunk of the $11 trillion global market. This is no surprise considering that Alberta is one of the world’s biggest hydrogen producers.
Saudi Arabia is also pivoting its energy expertise to become a major player in the industry; the oil-rich nation has ambitiously engaged in the world’s largest investment into hydrogen. By 2025, its $5 billion green hydrogen plant, powered by an incredible four gigawatts of wind and solar power, will produce enough energy daily to fuel twenty-thousand hydrogen buses.
The question still remains as to why more countries haven’t adopted hydrogen, especially since access to the technology dates back to 1846.
The Hindenburg incident may ring a bell — watching a hydrogen filled blimp erupt into flames definitely contributed to apprehension about the energy source in the mid-1900s. However, mass adoption is currently hindered by high costs; while hydrogen’s abundance is a key factor in its appeal, this may be a challenge when seeking support from both environmental advocates and economists.
Hydrogen is never found in its natural state, so there will always be underlying expenses for its extraction. Unfortunately, ninety-five percent of hydrogen gas currently comes from fossil fuels through reforming methane gas or other derivatives. In order to sustainably pursue hydrogen gas through natural gas or fossil fuels, this would require extensive carbon recapture.
Despite the majority of hydrogen production deriving from this environmentally harmful process, a method known as electrolysis provides a carbon neutral solution. This method draws on renewably generated electricity to extract hydrogen from individual water molecules. As the leading proponent for this process, Saudi Arabia uses its excess solar or wind energy and stores the resulting “green hydrogen in the form of ammonia.” Japan received the world’s first shipment of this ammonia in September of last year.
Unfortunately, the high delivery cost and current lack of infrastructure yields an incredibly expensive process. This deterred Mercedes-Benz, which recently cancelled its program to develop hydrogenized personal vehicles. Though its long-term strategy still incorporates hydrogen, a more gradual approach focuses first on hydrogen models for commercial vehicles such as semi-trucks and busses.
In the words of Henry Ford: “If I gave the people what they want, they would have faster horses.” Building new infrastructure for EVs will prove complicated and costly, but it’s also naive to think a transition to hydrogen would be devoid of challenge. In reality, we may have no choice but to bear these costs. Though the majority of hydrogen is currently derived from fossil fuels, with each new investment, accessibility to green hydrogen increases. By 2050, green hydrogen will generate up to 25% of the world’s energy needs.
It took us one-hundred years to realize that we gambled and lost on oil. Betting on finite resources again would be short-sighted. Hydrogen energy has the potential to sustainably power our world, but this will only happen if we finally start to think of its implementation as an investment rather than a cost.